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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/heroboy01head 


Si* 


THE  HERO  BOY; 

h 

OR, 

THE  LIFE  AND  DEEDS 


OF 

LIEUT.-GEN.  GRANT 


REV.  P.  C.  HEADLEY, 

AUTHOR  OF  “NAPOI.EON,”  “JOSEPHINE,”  “WOMEN  OF  THE  BIBLE,”  ETO- 


NEW  YORK : 

WILLIAM  H.  APPLETON,  92  GRAND  STREET. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  ISM,  by 
W.  H.  APPLETON, 

In  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


JOHN  p.  TROW, 

Printer,  Stereotypes,  and  Electrotyper, 
50  Greene  Street,  New  York. 


?-2,3.  /73 
G-  763  HE 


TO 


JESSE  R.  GRANT, 


THE  FATHER  OF  THE  BOY  J 
WHOSE  EARLY  HISTORY,  LIKE  THAT  OF  HIS 
ILLUSTRIOUS  SON, 

AND  WHOSE  SERENE  OLD  AGE, 
BRIGHT  WITH  THE  LIGHT  OF  CHRISTIAN  HOPE, 
PRESENTS  A BEAUTIFUL  EXAMPLE 
OF  SUCCESS  IN  LIFE, 


SHjis  ©chime 


18  GRATEFULLY  DEDICATED 


BY 


THE  AUTHOR. 


tl- 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Birth  Place  of  General  Grant, Frontispiece. 

Portraits  of  Heroes, Before  Title. 

Ulysses  at  Work, Page  8 

Fobt  Henry, “ 80 

Fort  Donelson, “ 82 

West  Point  in  1840, “ 145 

Vioksburg, “ 208 

Washington  to  Richmond “ 299 

Onward  to  Richmond, “ 808 


PREFACE. 


The  author  of  this  volume  acceded  the  more  readily 
to  the  desire  of  others,  in  preparing  it,  because  it  was 
for  loys.  To  interest  and  instruct  them,  who  are  to  bear 
the  burdens  of  the  church  and  state  in  the  peaceful  future 
which  must  ere  long  succeed  the  stormy  period,  has  been 
the  inspiring  hope.  The  materials  were  from  immedi- 
ate friends  of  the  subject  of  biography,  or  other  reli- 
able sources,  so  far  as  the  years  previous  to  the  Great 
Rebellion  are  concerned.  The  incidents  of  his  early  life 
are,  for  the  most  part,  from  data  furnished  by  General 
Grant’s  father.  He  stated  that  the  published  stories  of 
purchasing  a horse  of  Farmer  Ralston,  and  the  quarrel 
with  his  Canada  cousin — also  letters  purporting  to  be  his 
early  correspondence — are  fictions  entirely ; they  are  there- 
fore omitted.  He  made  the  pencil  sketch  from  which  the 
view  of  Point  Pleasant,  and  the  humble  home  of  General 
Grant’s  infancy,  were  engraved.  Larke’s  compilation,  and 
Carleton’s  “ Days  and  Rights  on  the  Battle  Field,”  have 
been  valuable  books  of  reference. 


605825 


IV 


PREFACE. 


The  deeds  of  the  Lieutenant-General  since  the  conflict 
opened,  are  spread  abroad  in  official  and  unofficial  records, 
so  that  no  serious  error  is  possible,  unless  by  singular  over- 
sight, or  misprint  of  the  pages.  It  is  believed  to  be  a 
correct  outline  of  a hero’s  life. 

And,  to  give  a more  distinct  impression  of  the  war 
field  over  which  General  Grant  moved,  outline  maps  are 
added.  A glossary  of  military  terms  is  also  given.  The 
pages  were  not  written  to  glorify  a military  chieftain,  and 
add  to  the  ephemeral  productions  of  the  day,  but  to  present 
to  our  youth  a record  reliable  as  the  sources  of  informa- 
tion could  make  it,  of  an  unostentatious,  earnest,  brave, 
and  successful  man.  It  is  offered  to  the  homes  of  the 
people  with  the  prayer  that  the  memorial  of  a distin- 
guished general  who  sprang  from  a humble  dwelling  in 
the  wilderness  of  the  West,  may  aid  in  moulding  charac- 
ter for  the  country’s  need,  and  for  the  “Better  Land.” 


NOTE. 

This  volume  is  the  first  of  a series  for  boys,  entitled  “ The 
Young  American’s  Library  of  Modern  Heroes.”  The  biography 
of  the  brilliant  astronomer,  patriot,  and  commander,  General  0.  M. 
Mitchel,  is  in  press ; to  be  followed  by  “ The  Life  of  Captain  John 
Ericsson  ; or,  The  Miner  Boy  and  his  Monitor  ” — a biography  of  rare 
interest,  from  authentic  sources.  Other  volumes  trill  be  added  to 
the  series. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

risi 

The  Grant  Family — The  Orphan  Boy— Home  and  Birth  of  Ulysses— 
How  he  got  his  Same — His  School  Days— Don't  know  what  Can’t 
means, 1 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  “Log  Hauling ’’—The  Young  Patriot  wants  an  Education— His 
Opportunities  — How  he  becomes  Cadet  — West  Point  Military 
Academy— Where  and  What  is  it  1— Young  Grant  as  Cadet— His 
Classmates— He  Graduates— Never  quarrels, 8 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  Young  Lieutenant — He  joins  his  Regiment — Goes  to  Louisiana— 

Is  in  the  Mexican  War— The  First  Battle — The  Long  March — Vera 
Cruz— Returns  to  the  States— Is  Married— Ordered  to  Oregon— Re- 
signs,   17 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Captain  turns  Farmer— He  is  not  Afraid  of  Work— In  the  Leather 
Trade — The  Call  to  Arms  again — Captain  offers  his  Service — His 
First  Post  of  Duty— Is  appointed  Colonel, 27 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

Three  Months  Men — Colonel  Grant  joins  his  Regiment— In  Camp — Oh' 
for  the  Field  of  Action — A Rapid  March — Promotion— Grant  loses 
no  Time— He  is  Commissioned  Brigadier-General— A Good  Story — 
Headquarters  at  Cairo — A True  American— He  seizes  Paducah — 
Secession  Flags — A Noble  Proclamation  — The  “Store-pipe  Gen- 
eral,"   36 


CHAPTER  YI. 

Columbus — Exchange  of  Prisoners — Battles — General  Grant  writes  to 
his  Father — Cares  for  the  Wounded— A New  Department  of  Com- 
mand— Prepares  for  a Grand  Movement  upon  the  Enemy  — His 
Strategy — Issues  Orders— The  Advance 47 

CHAPTER  YII. 

The  Gunboats  Move  up  the  Tennessee — Delay — Open  Fire  upon  Fort 
Henry — The  Fort  Surrenders — Right  on  to  Fort  Donelson  — The 
Fleet  Disabled — Foote  Wounded — The  Forces  of  Grant  close  on 
the  Fortress  — The  Terrific  Contest — The  Victory  — Promotion — 
Striking  Contrasts, 61 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

The  more  the  Hero  does,  the  more  is  he  expected  to  do — His  King- 
dom Enlarged — Anecdote  about  his  Habits — Major-General  Grant’s 
First  Work — Congratulations — Martial  Movements — No  Plundering 
allowed — TJp  the  River — Sword  presented — Scours  the  Country — 
Moves  toward  Corinth — Preparations  for  Battle, 87 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Saturday  Night — General  Grant  a Scout — The  Signals  of  Battle — The 
Combat  Opens— The  Scenes  of  Carnage — The  Critical  Hour— The 
Heroic  Onset— The  Victory— General  Grant’s  Bravery— The  Good 
News  in  New  York  and  Washington  — A Speech  in  favor  of 
Grant,  who  is  assailed— Scenes  on  the  Battle  Field  of  Shiloh,  . . 102 


CONTENTS. 


YU 

PAG3 

• CHAPTER  X. 

Corinth  the  next  Goal  of  the  Army — Getting  ready  to  March — 

The  “ Grand  Army  of  the  Tennessee  ” — The  Advance — The  Siege — 

The  Surrender — The  Pursuit — The  captured  Sheep — General  Hal- 
leck's  Farewell — Grant  at  Memphis — How  he  deals  with  Traitors,  US 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  Position  of  onr  Army— The  Grand  Programme — Armies  in  Mo- 
tion— Bragg  tries  to  Deceive  Grant — The  Advance  toward  Iuka — 

The  Fight — The  Victory — The  Stampede — General  Grant’s  Words 
of  Cheer— Despatch  from  the  President— A Cariosity,  ....  134 


CHAPTER  XTT. 

A larger  Field,  and  holder  Plana — Getting  Beady — Slrirmishes — Cot- 
ton— Megroes — Jews — Speculators — Grant's  Senae  of  Honor — Vicks- 
burg and  the  Mississippi — Farragnt'a  Fleet — The  Bombardment — 
Failure — A worthless  Canal — The  Moble  Logan — Holly  Springs 
Snrrenders  to  the  Behel3 — Amusing  Scenes, 145 


CHAPTER  XHL 

The  Grand  Flan  Deranged— Sherman’s  Flotilla — His  Assault  on  Vicks- 
hurg — Defeat  — Fatal  Ambition — Disloyalty  — President's  Procla- 
mation of  Freedom,  and  General  Grant — Vicksburg  again — Canals 
around  the  City  a Failnre — The  Copperhead  and  the  Bush,  . . 155 


CHAPTER  XTV. 

A Hew  Flau — Admiral  Farragut’s  Ship— Porter’s  Fleet — Hot  Work- 
Thrilling  Scene — Grierson’s  Baid  — Ludicrous  Scenes  — Banka  and 
Grant — Passing  Grand  Gulf  Batteries — The  Grand  Advance — 

The  Might  March— The  Might  Battle — Port  Gibson  Taken— Gov- 
ernor Tates  and  the  Victory,  166 


vm 


CONTENTS. 


, CHAPTER  XV. 

Sherman— Deceiving  the  Enemy— General  Grant’s  Wisdom,  and  hu- 
mane Care  of  the  Men — Ready  to  move  again— Governor  Pettus 
frightened— Grant’s  Despatch— A Battle— The  Capital  taken— 
News— Crossing  the  River — The  Investment  and  Assault— The  At- 
tack repeated— The  Siege— The  Messenger  deserts— The  Prison 
Fortress— Amusing  Incidents, 180 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

The  captured  Courier— Grant  and  the  Bettors— The  Sappers  and  Mi- 
ners—How  they  do  their  strange  Work— All  is  ready— The  Ex- 
plosion—The  Advance— The  Flag  of  Truce— The  Message,  and 
General  Grant’s  Answer— The  Capitulation — The  Fourth  of  July 
in  Vicksburg— The  Glad  Tidings— The  Loss  and  Gain— The  Presi- 
dent and  General  Grant— Scenes  after  the  Fall  of  the  Fortress— Bill 
of  Fare— The  Dead— Hurrah  I 195 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Eastern  Army— Port  Hudson  falls — The  “ Father  of  Waters  ’’ 
open— Joe  Johnston  pursued — Jeff.  Davis’s  Library  found— Jack- 
son  surrenders— General  Grant’s  care  of  his  Soldiers— His  Poli- 
tics—Anecdotes— Looks  after  his  Department— Mrs.  Grant  visits 
him— General  Grant  goes  to  Memphis — A splendid  Reception,  . 219 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

General  Grant  at  New  Orleans— His  Simplicity  in  Dress— Reviews  the 
Thirteenth  Army  Corps— Sad  Accident— Recovers  from  the  serious 
Injuries— He  cares  for  the  Soldier  in  little  things— A new  and  larger 
Command— Chickamauga  and  Chattanooga— An  amusing  Inci- 
dent—The  Feelings  of  the  Rebels— General  Grant  at  Chattanooga— 
Clearing  the  Track— Jeff  Davis  on  Lookout, 233 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


CHAPTEE  XIX. 

Preparations  for  Battle  again — The  successful  Trap — The  brave  Ad- 
vance of  General  Wood— The  Contest  opened — The  Three  Days’ 
Fight — General  Hooker  above  the  Clonds— General  Grant’s  De- 
spatch — General  Bragg’s— General  Meigs’s  Despatch  — General 
Grant  at  the  Coffin  of  Colonel  O’Meara,  . . 245 


CHAPTEE  XX. 

General  Sherman  at  Knoxville— The  President  and  the  Victories — 
Major-General  Grant’s  Congratulations — Colonel  Ely,  the  Indian 
Sachem’s  Tribute— Excitement  in  Washington— A Medal — Other 
Honors— Hon.  Mr.  Washburn’s  Speech— Grant’s  untiring  Activity — 
Visits  a sick  Child — He  is  invited  to  a Banquet — Accepts  the 
Honor— The  brilliant  Festival, 273 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Spring  Campaign— General  Grant  at  Washington— Scenes  in 
the  Hotel— The  Levee— The  Presentation  of  the  Commission  of 
Lieutenant-Generalship — General  Grant’s  Reply— The  summit  of 
Honor — He  visits  the  Potomac  Army — The  Fancy  Soldier — The 
Crisis, 291 

CHAPTEE  XXII. 

The  Advance — Richmond — The  path  to  the  Rebel  Capital— The  “Wil- 
derness”— The  opening  of  Battle  — The  Days  of  Carnage  — The 
Death  of  Sedgwick — Of  General  Rice— General  Grant’s  Strategy — 
General  Butler — Sheridan— Sherman — The  grand  flanking  March 
to  North  Anna — Chickahominy— James  River— What  the  Rebels 


think, 299 

Definition  of  Military  Words, 337 


C HATTER  I. 

Ths  Grant  Family — The  Orphan  Boy— Home  ar.d  Birth  of  Ulysses — llow 
he  got  his  Name — His  School  Days — Don’t  know  what  Can’t  means. 


BOUT  a hundred  years  ago,  two  brothers,  by 
the  name  of  Grant,  came  from  Scotland  to  the 
, . wilderness  of  the  New  World.  The  grand- 

father  of  Ulysses  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  His 
son,  Jesse  R.  Grant,  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land County,  January,  1794.  With  his  father’s  family 
he  went  to  the  great  and  distant  valley  of  the  West, 
in  the  spring  of  1799, — sixteen  years  after  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  closed.  There  were  no  canals  or  rail- 
roads then.  The  usual  mode  of  emigration  was  to  carry 
the  family  and  household  goods  in  the  canvas-covered 
wagon.  The  toilsome  journey  was  made  along  rough 
roads,  through  dark  forests,  and  across  rapid  streams.  At 
length  the  bruised  and  soiled  vehicle  which  carried  his 
earthly  possessions  stopped  in  Ohio.  Not  a single  State 
had  been  formed  out  of  the  extensive  region  called  the 
Northwestern  Territory,  lying  between  the  Alleghany  and 
Rocky  Mountains.  It  was  at  one  time  claimed  by  the 


2 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


French  under  the  name  of  Louisiana.  A large  portion 
of  this  rich  country  was  the  wide  hunting  ground  of  the 
Indians.  Often,  while  the  white  settler  was  chopping  in 
the  woods  to  clear  his  land,  the  bullet  or  tomahawk  of 
the  savage,  from  a thicket  or  behind  a tree,  would  strike 
him ; and,  falling  dead,  his  body  would  be  found,  some- 
times a great  while  after,  by  the  dear  ones  he  left  in  his 
cabin.  The  celebrated  Tecumseh  was  the  mighty  chief 
and  warrior  there.  Bloody  battles  had  been  fought  not 
far  from  Mr.  Grant’s  humble  dwelling. 

In  1804,  when  the  Reserve  became  partially  settled, 
Mr.  Grant  removed  to  Deerfield.  Here  he  died,  leaving 
J esse  fatherless.  To  use  his  own  words : 

“ I was  left  a poor  orphan  boy  at  eleven  years  of  age, 
with  none  to  guide  my  way  through  the  world.  I saw 
that  I was  destined  to  get  my  living  by  the  sweat  of  my 
brow,  and  that  it  was  necessary  to  select  some  calling  that 
promised  to  pay  the  best ; so  I learned  the  tanning  busi- 
ness. I followed  that  until  I was  sixty,  and  then  retired.” 

Thus  did  young  Jesse,  from  the  earliest  childhood 
inured  to  pioneer  life,  with  God’s  blessing,  carve  his  way 
alone,  to  an  honorable  position  in  society,. and  to  wealth. 

"When  the  last  war  with  England  threw  the  country 
into  excitement,  and  unsettled  to  some  extent  its  business, 
the  family  removed  to  Maysville,  Ky.  In  1815,  when 
hostilities  ceased,  Jesse  returned  to  Portage  County,  Ohio, 
and  commenced  the  business  of  tanning  in  Ravenna. 
Fever  and  ague,  once  the  scourge  of  the  West,  compelled 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


3 


young  Grant  to  go  South  again  in  1820.  A few  months 
later  he  returned  to  Ohio.  This  charming  region  had 
already  attracted  enterprising  people  from  the  colonies 
East.  An  interesting  peculiarity  in  the  climate  is  alluded 
to  by  early  residents  in  their  accounts  of  the  country  ; 
and  that  is,  the  cool  evenings.  So  much  of  the  land 
was  shaded  by  forests,  that  the  ground  did  not  get  warm 
during  the  day ; and  soon  as  the  sun  dropped  behind 
the  green  ocean  of  verdure,  the  air  was  cold  at  mid- 
summer there,  as  in  our  autumn  here.  This  made  the 
shining  bosom  of  the  wide  rivers  especially  cheering 
to  those  whose  humble  dwellings  stood  on  the  banks. 
Among  these  was  the  house  of  an  emigrant  from  Penn- 
sylvania, who  came  two  years  before.  His  daughter, 
Hannah  Simpson,  who  was  born  only  twenty-five  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  in  Westmoreland  County,  a woman  of 
character  and  prudent  economy,  won  the  heart  of  Jesse. 
In  June,  1821,  they  were  married.  Their  first  home  was 
at  Point  Pleasant  on  the  Ohio  River,  in  Clermont  County, 
Ohio.  It  is  a beautiful  spot,  below  the  mouth  of  Indian 
Creek.  You  will  see  by  the  map,  that  the  Little  Miami 
River  separates  Clermont  County  from  Hamilton,  whose 
principal  town  is  Cincinnati,  justly  called  the  “Queen 
City”  of  the  West. 

In  this  new  home  by  the  Ohio  a son  was  born, 
April  27th,  1822.  The  humble  dwelling  is  still  standing 
It  is  “ a small  one-story  frame  cottage.  It  was  not  worth 
more  than  two  or  three  hundred  dollars  before  the  war. 


-4 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


But  every  victory  gained  by  the  general,  or  a promotion, 
adds  in  the  owner’s  estimate  another  hundred  dollars  to 
the  price  of  the  cottage.”  Strangers  not  unfrequently 
stop,  on  their  way  down  the  river,  to  see  the  recently  un- 
known and  unnoticed  home. 

The  first  question  about  him,  was  one  which  has  been 
asked  over  every  child:  “What  shall  we  name  him?” 
I knew  a little  girl  ten  years  of  age,  for  whom  it  was 
not  answered.  The  parents  could  not  agree  upon  a 
name,  so  they  called  her  “ Tommy,”  leaving  her  to 
select  a name  whenever  she  could  suit  herself.  I have 
often  wondered  how  she  succeeded  in  making  a choice 
among  all  the  names  she  had  heard  and  seen. 

I will  give  you  the  origin  of  our  Western  boy’s 
name,  in  the  language  of  his  father,  who  wrote  me 
about  it : 

“ The  maternal  grandmother  was  quite  a reader  of  his- 
tory, and  had  taken  a great  fancy  to  Ulysses,  the  great 
Grecian  general,  who  defeated  the  Trojans  by  his  strategy 
of  the  wooden  horse.  She  wished  the  child  named  Ulys- 
ses. His  grandfather  wanted  to  have  him  named  Hiram. 
So  both  were  gratified  by  naming  him  Hiram  Ulysses. 
When  I wrote  to  Mr.  Hamer,  then  a member  of  Congress 
from  our  district,  to  procure  the  appointment  of  cadet,  he 
wrote  to  the  War  Department,  and  gave  his  name  ‘ Ulys- 
ses S.  Grant.’  And  we  could  not  get  it  altered.  Simp- 
son was  his  mother’s  maiden  name.  We  had  a son  named 
Simpson,  and  Mr  Hamer  confounded  the  two  names. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


5 


We  regarded  it  a matter  of  but  little  consequence,  and  so 
let  it  stand.” 

The  absence  of  fear  was  always  a characteristic  of 
Ulysses.  When  two  years  of  age,  while  Mr.  Grant  was 
carrying  Ulysses  in  his  arms  on  a public  occasion  through 
the  village,  a young  jnan  wished  to  try  the  effect  of  a 
pistol  report  on  the  child.  Mr.  Grant  consented,  saying, 
“ The  child  has  never  seen  a pistol  or  gun  in  his  life.” 
The  baby  hand  was  put  on  the  lock  and  pressed  quietly 
there,  till  it  snapped,  and  off  went  the  charge  with  a loud 
report.  Ulysses  scarcely  stirred  ; but  in  a moment  pushed 
away  the  pistol,  saying,  “ Fick  it  again ! fick  it  again  1 ” 
A bystander  remarked  : “ That  boy  will  make  a gen- 

eral ; for  he  neither  winked  nor  dodged.”  It  is  true 
such  acts  in  childhood,  which  attracted  no  particular 
attention  at  the  time,  are  related  of  distinguished  men, 
as  very  remarkable,  after  they  have  become  famous. 
Still,  boys  usually  show  talent  or  genius  if  they  possess 
it,  for  any  high  achievement  in  after  life. 

At  the  village  school,  Ulysses  was  a faithful  and 
diligent  boy.  He  made  excellent  progress ; and  if 
not  as  brilliant  as  others  of  his  age,  what  is  better,  he 
was  “ slow  and  sure.” 

Though  he  gave  no  striking  evidences  of  genius — 
neither  did  Washington  in  early  life — -there  was  a beau- 
tiful resemblance  to  the  Revolutionary  leade'r’s  boyhood, 
in  a peculiarity  well  expressed  by  one  who  ought  to 
know  : “ There  was  certainly  a manly,  dignified  modesty 


fl  LIFK  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 

m his  deportment  which  made  him  at  least  an  uncommon 

lad  ' 

He  patiently  committed  to  memory  the  dry,  hard 
lessons,  sure  that,  when  older,  he  would  understand  them 
better  and  find  them  useful ; unwilling  to  give  up,  when 
he  came  to  a difficult  question  or  problem.  This  was  evi- 
dently the  leading  characteristic  of  the  boy.  It  is  re- 
lated of  him,  that  once  he  seemed  to  be  fairly  bewildered 
with  his  task ; and  a schoolmate,  who  saw  his  perplexity, 
said  to  him,  “ You  can’t  master  that.” 

Ulysses  replied  : “ Can’t  I What  does  it  mean  ? ” 

“ Why,  it  means  that — that  you  can’t.  There  ! ” 

This  answer  was  not  satisfactory.  The  young  student 
thought  he  would  find  out  the  exact  definition.  He 
took  the  dictionary  and  began  the  search.  Pie  readily 
got  to  can , but  there  was  no  “ can't."  As  usual,  when 
beyond  his  own  knowledge,  he  went  to  his  teacher,  and 
inquired : “ What  is  the  meaning  of  can’t  ? The  word 
is  not  in  the  dictionary.”  The  explanation  of  the  abbre- 
viation was  soon  given.  But  this  was  not  all,  nor  the 
best  of  it.  The  affair  afforded  an  opportunity  to  impress 
the  great  truth  upon  the  minds  of  the  school,  that  per- 
severance in  well  doing  is  the  secret  of  success.  Added 
the  instructor  : “ If  in  the  struggles  of  life  any  person 
should  assert  that  1 you  can’t  ’ do  a thing  you  had  deter- 
mined to  accomplish,  let  your  answer  be,  ‘ The  word 
can’t  is  not  in  the  dictionary.’  ” It  was  the  same  lesson 
learned  by  Bobert  Bruce  from  the  spider  which  repeat- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


7 


edlv  failed  to  fasten  its  web,  but  at  last  succeeded.  The 
desponding  aspirant  for  the  throne  of  Scotland  put  on  new 
strength  and  fresh  courage,  thankful  for  the  silent  lesson 
which  a kind  Providence  sent  to  him  while  he  was  ready 
to  give  up  in  despair.  Not  many  boys  leam  so  early 
and  well  the  lesson  as  did  the  youthful  Grant. 

His  father  has  given  me  another  amusing  little  ind 
dent : 

“ I will  relate  another  circumstance,  which  I have 
never  mentioned  before,  which  you  may  use  as  you  think 
proper.  He  was  always  regarded  as  extremely  apt  in 
figures.  "When  he  was  about  ten  years  old,  a distin- 
guished phrenologist  came  along,  and  stayed  several  days 
in  the  place.  He  was  frequently  asked  to  examine  heads, 
blindfolded.  Among  others,  Ulysses  was  placed  in  the 
chair.  The  phrenologist  felt  his  head  for  several  minutes, 
-without  saying  anything ; at  length,  a distinguished  doctor 
asked  him  if  the  boy  had  a capacity  for  mathematics. 
The  phrenologist,  after  some  further  examinations,  said  : 
‘You  need  not  be  surprised  if  you  see  this  boy  fill  the 
Presidential  chair  some  time.’  ” 


CHAPTER  II. 


The  “Log  Hauling” — The  Young  Patriot  wants  an  Education — His  Op- 
portunities— How  he  becomes  Cadet — West  Point  Military  Academy — 
Where  and  What  is  it?— Young  Grant  as  Cadet — His  Classmates— ne 
Graduates— Never  quarrels. 


■^LYSSES  early  showed  his  S'cotch  blood.  That 
is  to  say,  he  had  the  substantial,  strong  quali- 
ties of  character  for  which  the  well-trained  fami- 
lies of  Scotland  are  remarkable.  No  people  are 
calmer  in  action  and  more  reverent  in  religious 
feeling,  or  surpass  them  in  intelligence  and  integrity. 
When  twelve  years  of  age,  he  gave  a fine  illustration  of 
self-reliance  and  manliness,  along  with  the  ability  to  man- 
age difficult  undertakings,  which  have  marked  his  whole 
career. 

His  father  wanted  several  sticks  of  hewn  timber 
brought  from  the  forest.  The  boy  had  learned  already 
to  drive  “ the  team,”  and  liked  nothing  better  than  to 
take  the  reins.  Mr.  Grant  told  Ulysses  that  he  might 
harness,  and  go  for  the  timber  ; men  would  be  there  with 
handspikes  to  assist  in  “ loading  up.” 

Soon  Ulysses  was  on  the  way,  whip  and  “ lines  ” in 


. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


9 


his  hands,  with  the  manly  pride  felt  only  in  a higher 
degree  by  the  king,  or  president,  or  general,  in  his 
position  of  honor  and  authority. 

When  he  reached  the  forest,  no  men  were  there  ; for 
some  reason  they  had  failed  to  appear.  He  looked 
around  him  a few  moments  in  surprise,  thinking  what 
to  da 

The  natural  and  indeed  entirely  proper  course  would 
have  been,  to  wait  a sufficient  time,  and  then  return 
home  if  assistance  did  not  come.  But  the  tanner  boy, 
accustomed  to  all  sorts  of  labor,  and  inclined  to  take 
responsibility  from  which  others  of  his  age  would  expect 
to  be  excused,  resolved  not  to  go  without  the  timber. 
How  to  get  the  heavy  logs  on  the  wagon  was  the 
serious  question.  Just  then  his  eye  rested  on  a tree 
fallen  over,  and  leaning  against  another.  This  made 
the  trunk  an  inclined  plane,  rising  gradually  upward 
from  the  ground.  Ulysses  saw  at  a glance,  how  to  make 
the  horses  do  the  work  intended  for  the  workmen  with 
their  handspikes.  He  hitched  the  team  to  each  of  the 
logs,  and  drew  one  at  a time  near  the  tree,  and  lying 
parallel  with  it ; i.  e.,  in  the  same  direction,  lengthwise. 
The  next  thing  was  to  swing  the  end  round  upon  the 
inclined  plane,  and  slide  it  along,  till  the  timbers  were  at 
right  angles  with  it,  and  projecting  over  it,  far  enough 
to  admit  the  wagon  under  them.  Then  fastening  the 
horses  to  these  ends  hanging  over  the  bach  of  the 
wagon,  he  dragged  them  in  turn  along  into  it ; just  as 


10 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


with  your  hand  you  could  pull  the  “ see-saw  ” board, 
with  one  extremity  resting  on  the  ground,  over  the 
fence  or  fulcrum  supporting  it,  into  a vehicle  of  any 
kind  which  stood  beneath  the  end  raised  from  the  earth. 

Having  secured  his  load,  the  young  teamster  mounted 
it  and  drove  homeward  in  triumph  ; again  proving  clearly 
that  can't  was  not  in  his  dictionary.  When  he  reined 
up  his  team  before  the  door  of  Mr.  Grant,  we  can  imagine 
the  pleasing  surprise  with  which  he  heard  the  story  of 
Ulysses. 

But  the  young  woodman’s  prospects  were  not  en- 
couraging. His  father’s  means  were  limited,  and,  except- 
ing three  months  each  winter  in  the  common  school,  he 
had  to  assist  in  the  work  of  the  tannery  and  the  home. 
Besides,  books  and  newspapers  for  reading  were  very  scarce. 

At  seventeen,  Ulysses  began  to  feel,  as  did  his  father, 
that  decisive  steps  must  be  taken  toward  an  education. 
It  was  often  talked  over  at  the  fireside,  and  various  plans 
suggested.  The  young  man’s  taste  for  military  life,  the 
thorough  instruction  and  economy  of  the  Academy  at 
West  Point,  suggested  the  possibility  of  getting  an 
appointment  there.  The  congressmen  usually  controlled 
the  selection  of  the  candidates  for  admission  in  their 
several  districts.  Political  influence  and  position  neces- 
sarily have  much  to  do  with  the  choice  among  the 
applicants.  But  Mr.  Grant  was  hopeful.  He  wrote  a 
letter  to  the  Hon.  Thomas  Morris,  member  of  the 
United  States  Senate  from  Ohio,  requesting  his  influ- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


11 


ence  to  secure  a place  for  his  son  in  the  Military 
Academy  at  "West  Point.  Mr.  Morris  had  another  ap- 
plicant, and  wrote  accordingly  to  the  father  of  Ulysses ; 
hut  informed  him  of  a vacancy  in  the  district  of  Hon. 
Thomas  L.  Hamer.  It  seems  that  a young  man  who 
had  been  appointed  there,  failed,  for  some  reason,  to  enter 
the  institution.  This  was  the  only  chance  for  Ulysses. 
At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Morris,  Mr.  Grant  immediately 
corresponded  with  Mr.  Hamer,  who  cheerfully  proposed 
the  tanner’s  son  to  the  Government. 

Young  Grant  was  appointed.  And  now  he  must  go 
before  the  examiners,  who  would  either  send  him  home 
again,  or  open  to  him  the  doors  of  the  Academy.  The 
trial  included,  with  certain  preparatory  branches  of  study, 
a physical  ordeal,  to  ascertain  whether  the  body  were  per- 
fectly sound.  He  passed  safely  through  it  all,  and  en- 
tered the  school  July  1st,  1839. 

"West  Point  is  a romantic  and  beautiful  spot  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Hudson  Kiver,  in  Cornwall,  Orange 
county,  New  York,  fifty-two  miles  above  New  York 
city.  The  plain,  or  plateau , as  it  is  termed,  is  one 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  feet  from  the  water ; with  an 
abrupt  bank  to  protect  it,  and  on  the  south  and  south- 
west, lofty  summits  to  shut  it  in.  Port  Putnam  is  more 
than  four  hundred  feet  higher,  and  looks  down  upon  it. 
One  beautiful  plat  of  land  is  known  as  Kosciusko’s 
Garden,  in  which  stands  the  fine  monument  of  this  Polish 
refugee  and  patriot,  who  commanded  the  post  at  one  time 


12 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


during  the  Revolution.  Here  a massive  chain  was 
stretched  across  the  river  to  keep  the  enemy’s  boats 
from  passing. 

The  Academy  was  established  by  act  of  Congress, 
in  1780  ; and  is  allowed  to  have  only  two  hundred  and 
fifty  cadets,  from  fourteen  to  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
Each  of  them  is  paid  enough  per  month  to  defray  all  his 
expenses.  By  this  method,  instead  of  paying  the  bills 
for  them,  a manly  independence  is  cultivated,  while  at  the 
same  time  the  education  is  gratuitous.  They,  in  return, 
are  to  serve  at  least  eight  years  in  the  army,  unless  allowed 
to  resign  or  are  dismissed. 

The  scenery  is  charming,  and  the  school  has  every 
facility  for  a thorough  preparation  to  enter  any  part  of 
the  military  service.  You  recollect  it  was  the  scene  of 
Arnold’s  treachery  in  1780,  which  cost  the  accomplished 
spy,  Major  Andre,  .his  life.  Here  Ulysses  found  just  the 
means  of  culture  he  wanted.  With  a fondness  for 
mathematics,  he  could  enjoy  the  class  drill,  which  is  not 
surpassed  in  the  country,  and  also  have  the  finest  appa- 
ratus for  the  demonstration  of  difficult  problems,  and  all 
the  science  of  wmr. 

Grant,  unlike  a large  number  of  the  cadets,  had 
no  previous  academic  or  collegiate  course.  But  his 
studious  habits,  his  close  attention  to  the  stringent  rules 
of  the  institution,  soon  gave  him  a high  position. 
Whether  in  the  recitation  room,  in  the  military  exercise, 
or  in  the  annual  encampment  of  the  cadets,  he  attended  to 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


13 


his  own  business ; willing  to  “ bide  his  time  ” in  the 
career  of  honorable  success. 

And.  my  young  reader,  I must  show  you,  in  his  own 
words,  which  I quote  again  from  a letter,  how  Mr.  Jesse 
E.  Grant,  Ulysses’s  father,  "spoiled  a story  of  the  Cadet’s 
life.  I intended  to  close  this  chapter  with  the  narrative, 
which  was  already  printed,  purporting  to  be  a fact,  of  a 
quarrel  with  his  comrades,  because,  in  accordance  with 
the  foolish  custom,  in  literary  institutions,  of  playing  off 
practical  jokes  upon  the  freshman  class,  they  made  him 
the  target  of  fun.  The  father  says  : 

“ The  story  about  his  1 flogging  ’ the  captain  is  untrue. 
He  is  said  to  have  never  had  a personal  controversy  in  his 
life.  The  nearest  approach  to  it  was  with  General 

H , at  the  siege  of  Corinth.  He  says  he  desired 

moving  on  the  enemy's  vjorks  ten  days  before  General 

H was  ready,  and  saw  that,  by  delay,  they  would 

lose  the  chance  of  bagging  the  rebel  army,  then  com- 
pletely in  their  power.  He  is  sure  he  used  stronger  lan- 
guage to  General  H than  he  had  ever  used  before  to 

any  person,  and  expected  to  be  arrested  and  tried.  But 
the  General  said  to  him  : ‘ If  I had  let  you  take  your  own 
course,  you  would  have  taken  the  rebel  army.  Hereafter 
I will  not  dictate  to  you  about  the  management  of  an 
army.’  It  was  a common  remark  among  the  boys,  when 
Ulysses  got  his  appointment,  that  ‘ Lis  ’ would  make  a 
good  cadet  in  every  respect  but  one  ; that  was,  if  he  ever 
was  engaged  in  war,  he  was  too  goodnatured  to  be  kicked 


14 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


into  a fight.  In  addition  to  freedom  from  personal  contro- 
versy, it  is  believed  he  never  used  a profane  word,  nor  told 
a deliberate  falsehood — at  least,  under  the  parental  roof. 
He  was  brought  up  in  a Methodist  family.” 

The  allusion  to  Corinth  you  will  understand  better 
when  you  read  the  account  of  its  siege.  What  an  inter- 
esting glimpse  is  here  given  of  “ Lis,”  as  his  playmates 
called  him  ! He  was  modest,  kind,  reverent,  and  true,  in 
the  bosom  of  that  religious  family,  the  parents  little 
dreaming  what  a hero  and  nation’s  benefactor  was  trained 
under  the  humble  roof,  for  his  unrivaled  field  of  action. 

The  freshman  year  passed  away,  and  the  annual  trial 
of  scholarship,  dreaded  by  pupils  who  feel  unprepared 
for  it,  came.  Not  a few  failed  in  the  examination 
of  1840,  and  left  the  institution,  or  fell  back  to  a lower 
position  ; but  Grant  advanced  to  the  third  or  next  class, 
receiving  also  the  appointment  of  corporal  in  the  battal- 
ion of  cadets.  His  progress  was  steady  but  not  bril- 
liant, in  mathematics,  French,  drawing,  and  cavalry 
exercises.  Quiet,  sure  of  what  he  learned,  and  confident 
lie  could  accomplish  the  thing  he  proposed  to  do,  he  was 
a fine  example  of  the  modest,  reliable,  and  really  suc- 
cessful student. 

When  the  examination  of  1841  again  thinned  the 
number  of  those  with  whom  he  started,  he  took  no  back- 
ward step,  advancing  to  his  place  in  the  second  class. 
The  office  of  sergeant  of  the  battalion,  was  a compliment 
given  him  by  the  cadets,  for  the  summer  encampment. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


15 


The  hour  of  recitation,  whether  in  philosophy,  chemis- 
try, or  drawing,  found  him  ready  for  the  unsparing  pro- 
fessor. He  acquitted  himself  well  in  horsemanship,  in 
infantry  tactics,  which  relate  to  the  use  of  small  arms,  and 
in  artillery,  or  the  handling  of  heavy  guns.  The  nest  year, 
in  a class  of  less  than  half  the  original  number,  he  entered 
upon  the  last  and  crowning  course  of  studies.  He  was 
honored  with  a commission  as  officer  of  cadets,  who  could 
command  either  a section,  troop,  or  company.  Few  young 
persons  bear,  with  propriety,  authority.  It  often  creates 
self-conceit  or  petty  tyranny.  But  Cadet  Grant  won  re- 
spect by  doing  just  what  belonged  to  his  office,  and  no 
more.  Faithful  to  his  position,  he  was  kind  and  respectful 
to  all.  He  made  the  most  of  this  last  year  at  the 
academy. 

Engineering,  which  is  the  science  of  building  fortifica- 
tions, bridges,  &c.,  with  the  dry  rules  of  law  in  its  appli- 
cation to  the  country,  military  affairs,  and  the  conduct 
of  nations  toward  each  other,  he  mastered  by  careful 
and  hard  study.  Meanwhile,  he  perfected  himself  in  horse- 
manship, and  became  one  of  the  finest  riders  in  the  insti- 
tution. 

June  30th,  1843,  only  thirty  young  men  of  the  hun- 
dred who  put  on  the  gray  suit  of  the  cadet  four  years 
before,  graduated.  The  Ohio  boy  was  No.  21,  or 
nearly  in  the  middle  of  the  class.  The  country  youth 
of  seventeen,  who  came  from  a district  school,  left  be- 
hind him  along  his  academic  career  seventy-nine  of 


16 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


his  classmates,  among  whom  were  sons  of  senators  and 
of  professional  men.  Many  of  them  had  been  to  college. 
Such  was  the  reward  of  industry  and  a good  character ; 
a determination  to  do  well,  with  a patient,  honest  straight- 
forward course  to  secure  his  object.  Without  such 
qualities  and  exertion,  Ulysses  would  have  only  been  a 
poor  tanner,  or  a very  common  farmer  in  the  West. 

Among  those  who  finished  the  regular  course  with  Ca- 
det Grant  at  the  Academy,  were  many  distinguished  officers 
in  the  Mexican  war,  and  others  who  became  conspicuous 
commanders  in  the  great  civil  conflict  of  the  Republic. 
The  first  in  the  class  was  Major-General  W.  B.  Franklin, 
who  led  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps  under  General 
Banks.  Generals  Ingalls,  Steele,  and  Judah,  were  of  the 
same  company  of  graduates.  It  is  sad  to  know  that  several 
of  them  fought  under  the  flag  of  secession, — brave  officers 
in  a bad  cause.  They  little  dreamed,  while  under  the 
“star-spangled-banner”  at  West  Point,  enjoying  its  pro- 
tection in  the  walks  of  science,  and  among  the  glorious 
scenery  of  the  Hudson,  with  the  warning  example  of 
Arnold  suggested  by  it,  that  they  should  stand  in  battle 
array  against  each  other.  But  such  has  been  the  result  of 
home  education  in  the  hostile  principles  of  freedom  and 
oppression.  The  harvest  of  death  and  ruin  on  the  field 
of  war,  followed  the  moral  seed-sowing  of  many  years,  in 
the  hearts  of  the  people.  A cultivated  mind  with  wrong 
principles,  is  like  a splendid  engine  off  the  track — it  will 
do  only  harm. 


CHAPTER  III. 


The  Young  Lieutenant— He  joins  his  Regiment — Goes  to  Louisiana— Is  in 
the  Mexican  War— The  First  Battle — The  Long  March— Vera  Cruz — 
Returns  to  the  States— Is  Married— Ordered  to  Oregon— Resigns. 


jOUR  long  years  of  study  and  drill  were  now 
over.  Nobly  proud  and  happy  cadet ! The 
educated  young  man  looks  out  upon  a life  of 
service  and  honor.  What  shall  be  the  first 
step  ? The  army  of  the  United  States  was 
scattered  through  the  land,  doing  little  besides  occupy- 
ing forts  as  garrisons,  guarding  the  frontier  wherever 
threatened  by  troublesome  Indians,  and  superintending 
the  opening  of  military  roads  through  the  wilderness. 
Vacancies  in  command  did  not  often  occur,  and  the  new 
graduates  must  be  content  with  the  honorary  titles,  of 
oommand.  Grant  was  therefore  breveted  second  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Fourth  Regular  Infantry,  performing  the 
duties  of  a private  soldier.  He  joined  his  regiment, 
stationed  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  near  St.  Louis,  and,  with 
it,  went  on  the  occasional  expeditions  into  the  wild 
country  lying  back  of  the  settlements  scattered  along  the 
great  rivers,  to  protect  the  defenceless  inhabitants  from 
2 


18  „ LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 

the  incursions  of  their  savage  neighbors.  In  the  spring  of 
1844  he  removed  with  his  regiment  up  the  Bed  River,  in 
Louisiana. 

While  alluding  to  the  aborigines,  I must  tell  you  that 
our  Government,  and  the  Indian  agents  and  traders,  have 
been  far  more  guilty  than  the  red  men  in  regard  to  deeds 
of  violence  these  have  committed.  This  all  our  best 
military  officers  who  have  been  among  them  will  tell 
you.  Scarcely  an  instance  of  massacre  or  war  is  re- 
corded, which  cannot  be  traced  directly  to  some  outrage 
upon  them — such  as  breaking  treaty,  defrauding  them  of 
money  due  them — or  robbing  them  of  property.  We 
have  treated  the  poor  Indian  as  if  he  were  under  no 
government,  human  or  divine,  but  lawful  plunder  for  the 
white  man.  No  Christian  person,  certainly,  can  doubt 
that  Providence,  in  the  civil  war,  chastised  the  nation  on 
account  of  such  oppressive  and  treacherous  treatment  of 
the  red  race,  along  with  the  enslavement  and  cruel  abuse 
of  the  African. 

Months  passed  away  without  any  striking  events  in 
this  frontier-life  of  Lieutenant  Grant.  But  a war-cloud 
was  now  gathering  on  the  Southern  horizon.  Mexico  and 
the  United  States  had  been  disputing  about  the  boundary 
line  of  Texas,  which  became  about  this  time  a State. 
Texas  claimed  more  territory  than  Mexico  said  was 
hers.  There  was  apparently  no  very  strong  desire  on 
our  part  to  settle  the  quarrel  on  righteous  principles. 
Southern  feeling  and  interests,  which  at  last  brought  on 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


19 


the  great  Rebellion,  led  ambitious  politicians  to  urge  the 
claims  of  the  Texans.  The  more  territory  given  to 
slavery,  the  stronger  would  the  aristocratic  owners  of 
the  multiplying  victims  of  their  mercenary,  aspiring  desire, 
and  lust,  become.  Mexico  refused  to  yield  'to  our 
demands.  Both  parties  were  willing  to  enter  the  field 
of  deadly  conflict.  The  Government  determined  to  send 
to  the  border  an  “ army  of  occupation ; ” that  is,  a force 
to  secure  the  observance  of  the  prescribed  limit  of  Texas 
lands.  General  Zachary  Taylor  was  the  commander ; a 
very  heroic  oflBcer,  and  afterward  President  of  the  United 
States.  This  was  in  1845.  Lieutenant  Grant  was  in 
the  expedition,  and  marched  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus 
Christi,  where  the  troops  were  concentrating.  The  town 
is  in  Nueces  County,  and  very  important  because  situated 
on  the  southern  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  near 
the  disputed  territory.  Vessels  could  bring  supplies,  and 
the  troops  move  from  it  over  the  country. 

Meanwhile  young  Grant  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
first  lieutenant  in  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  the  United 
States  Infantry.  But  he  was  anxious  to  stay  with  his  old 
comrades  and  the  officers  under  whom  he  served,  and 
requested  the  Government  to  let  him  remain.  He  was 
gratified  in  his  choice ; and  the  brevet  or  compli- 
mentary appointment  was  exchanged  for  the  substantial 
honor  of  a regular  commission  as  Second  Lieutenant  of 
the  Fourth  Infantry.  The  winter  passed  away  with 
nothing  decisive  in  military  movements,  till  May  23d. 


20 


EIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


1846,  when  Mexico  declared  war,  on  the  ground  that  we 
had  invaded  her  territory. 

General  Taylor  occupied  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
opposite  Matamoros,  where  the  Mexicans  were  in  force. 
Here  he  heard  that  the  enemy  were  between  him  and 
Point  Isabel,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  also  threaten- 
ing Port  Brown  further  up  the  stream.  He  at  once  re- 
solved to  reinforce  the  troops  at  the  former  place,  and 
relieve  the  imperilled  garrison  at  Port  Brown. 

When  the  forces  left  the  headquarters  opposite  Mata- 
moros, whose  guns  were  pointed  toward  our  earthworks, 
the  bells  rang  merrily ; the  people  supposing  the  Ameri- 
can troops  were  evacuating  their  position.  The  case 
was  far  otherwise,  to  the  joy  of  Lieutenant  Grant.  The 
blooming,  glorious  spring  of  the  South  was  inspiring ; 
the  grand  old  mountains  in  the  distance  were  sublimely 
suggestive ; but  he  felt,  with  a quiet  enthusiasm  pecu- 
liar to  his  nature,  more  deeply  still,  the  stirring  prospect 
of  his  first  battle  on  the  plains  of  national  conflict.  It  is 
painful  to  recollect,  that  Generals  Lee  and  Beauregard,  of 
the  rebel  army,  were  among  the  most  patriotic  and  able 
officers  in  the  opening  war.  A glance  at  the  map  will  show 
you  that  Point  Isabel,  Palo  Alto,  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma, 
lie  on  the  Rio  Grande,  which  separates  Texas  from 
Mexico,  between  the  Gulf  and  Fort  Brown.  The  army 
were  marching  on  this  line  of  towns  toward  the  fort, 
when  they  met  the  Mexicans  at  Palo  Alto.  The  engage- 
ment was  sharp  and  bloody.  Lieutenant  Grant  fought 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


21 


bravely,  winning  the  admiration  of  the  men  and  superior 
officers. 

The  nest  day  the  battle  opened  again  at  Eesaca  de 
la  Palma,  with  fatal  fury.  The  Mexican  ranks  were 
thinned,  and  reeled  before  our  fire,  leaving  the  field  strewn 
with  the  slain,  but  under  the  “ Stars  and  Stripes.”  Grant 
escaped  unhurt,  and  with  a growing  reputation  for 
gallantry  in  the  fight.  He  was  modest  as  he  was  brave, 
caring  more  for  the  character  of  a true  soldier  and 
patriot,  than  for  the  honors  others  less  deserving  miglp 
receive.  The  victorious  battalions  advanced  up  the  Eic- 
Grande,  clearing  the  Texan  frontier  of  the  Mexicans ; the 
lieutenant  sharing  the  hardships  and  perils  with  the  de- 
light of  a warrior  who  became  one  from  taste  and  delib- 
erate choice.  The  army  then  swept  down  the  river  into 
the  enemy’s  country,  toward  Monterey,  a strongly  fortified 
position.  A terribly  severe  but  successful  engagement 
resulted  in  the  surrender  of  the  place.  Lieutenant  Grant, 
in  the  desperate  contest,  was  fearless  and  courageous,  in 
the  cheerful,  faithful  discharge  of  duty. 

The  time  had  come  for  a great  and  decisive  struggle 
for  victory  and  peace.  The  magnificent  Mexican  capital 
was  to  be  the  goal  of  the  augmented  forces  under  the 
command  of  General  Scott,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the 
United  States  army.  His  fleet  came  up  the  bay  March 
9th,  1847,  bringing  twelve  thousand  troops,  with  stream- 
ers flying  and  bands  playing.  It  was  a splendid  sight.  He 
landed  the  men  safely  at  Sacrificios,  three  miles  from  Yera 


22 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Cruz,  through  the  surf  rolling  high  with  crested  breakers 
on  the  beach.  General  Taylor’s  forces  were  ready  to  join 
him  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  a strong  and  well-defended 
city,  with  its  celebrated  castle  San  Juan  de  Ulloa.  Days 
of  fearful  warfare  followed  ; but  the  Mexicans  were  com- 
pelled, at  length,  to  yield  to  the  valor  of  our  troops. 

In  April,  1847,  with  our  colors  waving  over  the  battle- 
ments of  Vera  Cruz,  the  army  prepared  to  advance  into  the 
heart  of  the  hostile  territory.  Lieutenant  Grant  was  appoint- 
ed quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  It  was  a post  of  responsi- 
bility, which  required  good  judgment,  honesty,  and  business 
ability.  The  officer  had  in  charge  the  subsistence  of  troops 
and  horses,  and  the  general  care  of  whatever  had  to  do  with 
the  material  interests  of  the  forces  in  his  department.  Be- 
sides, this  mark  of  confidence  in  his  superior  capacity  gave 
him  a place  on  the  commander’s  staff,  the  group  of  officers 
who  act  as  his  escort  and  aid  him  in  the  execution  of 
orders.  The  quartermaster,  unless  especially  needed  and 
called  to  the  service  on  the  staff,  could  remain  in  his  own 
department  in  time  of  battle.  But  Grant  preferred  to 
mingle  in  the  fray ; and  when  the  shot  and  shell  began 
to  fly,  he  was  on  his  steed  and  on  the  plains  of  death. 

The  autumn  of  1847  brought  the  terrible  struggle  of 
Molino  del  Bey.  So  prompt  and  reckless  of  danger 
was  the  calm,  heroic  lieutenant,  riding  coolly  through  the 
leaden  hail,  that  he  was  appointed  first  lieutenant  on  the 
spot.  Congress,  which  often  is  slow  to  recognize  true 
merit,  and  confers  undeserved  honors,  did  not  confirm  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


23 


commission ; and  he  refused  to  accept  an  empty  brevet. 
The  crimson  field  of  Molino  del  Rey  was  won  September 
8th.  Five  days  later,  Chapultepec,  a frowning,  formidable 
stronghold,  was  stormed.  Up  to  the  battlements,  raining 
destruction  upon  the  assailants,  the  ranks  of  brave  men 
sternly  moved.  None  among  them  all  was  more  daring 
and  gallant  than  Grant.  I will  furnish  the  interesting 
proof  of  his  splendid  conduct,  from  the  official  reports  of 
the  officers  of  the  day.  Captain  Brooks,  of  the  Second 
Artillery,  writes : 

“ I succeeded  in  reaching  the  fort  with  a few  men. 
Here  Lieutenant  U.  S.  Grant,  and  a few  more  men  of 
the  Fourth  Infautry,  found  me,  and,  by  a joint  move- 
ment, after  an  obstinate  resistance,  a strong  field  work 
was  carried,  and  the  enemy’s  right  was  completely 
turned.” 

Major  Lee,  in  his  report,  says  of  the  young  soldier’s 
conduct  at  Chapultepec  : 

“ At  the  first  barrier  the  enemy  was  in  strong  force, 
which  rendered  it  necessary  to  advance  with  caution. 
This  was  done  ; and  when  the  head  of  the  battalion 
was  within  short  musket  range  of  the  barrier,  Lieuten- 
ant Grant,  Fourth  Infantry,  and  Captain  Brooks,  Second 
Artillery,  with  a few  men  of  their  respective  regiments, 
by  a handsome  movement  to  the  left,  turned  the  right 
flank  of  the  enemy,  and  the  barrier  was  carried.  Lieu- 
tenant Grant  behaved  with  distinguished  gallantry  on  the 
13th  and  14th.” 


21 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


The  rising  commander  thus  early  learned  the  art  of 
outflanking  the  enemy ; displaying  a cool,  unyielding 
valor,  rather  than  a dashing  and  ambitious  warfare. 

Colonel  Garland,  of  the  First  Brigade,  speaks  very 
highly  of  Grant  in  the  same  action  : 

“ The  rear  of  the  enemy  had  made  a stand  behind  a 
breastwork,  from  which  they  were  driven  by  detachments 
of  the  Second  Artillery,  under  Captain  Brooks,  and  the 
Fourth  Infantry,  under  Lieutenant  Grant,  supported  by 
other  regiments  of  the  division,  after  a short,  sharp  con- 
flict. I recognized  the  command  as  it  came  up,  mounted 
a howitzer  on  the  top  of  a convent,  which,  under  the 
direction  of  Lieutenant  Grant,  quartermaster  of  the 
Fourth  Infantry,  and  Lieutenant  Lendrum,  Third  Artil- 
lery, annoyed  the  enemy  considerably.  I must  not  omit 
to  call  attention  to  Lieutenant  Grant,  who  acquitted  him- 
self most  nobly  upon  several  occasions  under  my  observa- 
tion.” 

There  was  an  additional  evidence  of  the  hero’s  steady 
progress  in  the  career  of  fame.  He  was  brevetted  captain 
in  the  United  States  Army,  his  rank  to  date  from  the 
great  battle  of  Chapultepec,  September  13th,  18'47. 

"When,  not  long  after,  the  victorious  army  entered 
Mexico,  the  splendid  capital,  Grant  participated  in  the 
magnificent  parade,  and  enjoyed  the  glory  of  the  final 
achievement,  to  which  all  previous  battles  had  been  opening 
the  way.  Lieutenant  Grant  was  in  fourteen  battles. 

The  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  in  February,  1848,  on 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


25 


the  22d  of  which,  the  noble  and  venerable  J.  Q.  Adams 
was  struck  down  in  death  on  the  floor  of  the  Capitol,  ex- 
claiming, at  the  close  of  a long  and  blameless  life  of  useful- 
ness, “ This  is  the  last  of  earth.”  On  July  4th,  President 
Polk  issued  the  formal  proclamation  of  peace  between  the 
United  States  and  Mexico.  A large  extent  of  territory 
was  ceded  to  us,  and  we  paid,  on  our  part,  several  millions 
of  dollars  to  the  Mexican  Government.  The  war  cost  us 
twenty-five  thousand  men,  and  seventy-five  millious  of 
dollars. 

The  disbanded  army  was  again  distributed  among  the 
forts  in  the  States,  and  along  the  frontier.  The  'hero  of 
Chapnltepec  now  made  a new  conquest.  He  won  the 
hand  of  a Miss  Dent,  a sensible  and  excellent  young  lady, 
near  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  was  married  in  August  of  that 
year.  His  military  home  was  first  at  Detroit,  Mich., 
and  then  at  Sackett’s  Harbor,  a post  on  Lake  Ontario, 
in  Northern  New  York.  There  was  little  to  do  in  time 
of  peace  in  these  quiet  barracks  near  a small  and  pleasant 
village.  He  is  remembered  by  the  people  in  Watertown, 
a handsome  place  several  miles  distant,  as  having  a 
passion  for  playing  checkers, — a game  which,  perhaps,  my 
young  readers  have  played,  and  is  among  the  most  harm- 
less pastimes  of  the  kind,  because  not  often  carried  to 
excess,  or  associated  with  dangerous  games  of  chance. 
The  quartermaster  (for  in  this  position  he  continued),  with 
characteristic  perseverance  and  patience,  would  contest  the 


26 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


advantage  to  be  gained  by  the  moves,  and  was  hard  to 
beat. 

At  tliis  time,  many  of  the  settlers  on  the  plains  of 
California  were  without  law  and  order ; they  were  gold 
seekers,  and  reckless  men.  It  becoming  necessary  to  send 
a military  force  to  restrain  their  passions,  and  prevent  In- 
dian depredations  and  massacre,  the  Fourth  Infantry  were 
selected  to  visit  the  Pacific  coast.  Lieutenant  Grant  went 
with  a portion  of  it  to  Oregon.  This  wild  and  romantic 
life  was  very  similar  to  that  in  the  South,  soon  after  he 
left  West  Point.  The  solitary  marches  in  the  grand  old 
woods,  the  ancient  rocks  and  rivers,  with  perils  from  the 
savages,  had  attractions  for  the  young  and  adventurous 
spirit.  While  here,  his  regular  commission  as  captain 
in  the  infantry  came — another  step  in  the  career  of 
honor. 

After  two  years’  service  in  the  far  and  almost  unin- 
habited West,  Captain  Grant  saw  so  little  prospect  of 
activity  and  promotion,  that  he  resigned  his  place  in  the 
army,  and  returned  to  his  family  near  the  city  of  St. 
Louis,  to  try  his  fortune  in  civil  life.  We  shall  see 
how  he  succeeded. 


CHAPTER  IY. 


The  Captain  turns  Farmer— He  is  not  Afraid  of  "Work-In  the  Leather 
Trade — The  Call  to  Arms  again — Captain  offers  his  Service — His  First 
Post  of  Duty— Is  appointed  Colonel. 


nOR  fifteen  years  the  heroic  Captain  had  handled 
books,  firearms,  and  sword,  instead  of  logs, 
leather,  and  horsewhip.  What  shall  he  do  now, 
without  office  and  employment  ? It  did  not 
cost  him  a tear  nor  take  him  long  to  put  off 
the  “ regimentals,”  and  appear  in  an  old  felt  hat,  blouse 
coat,  and  pants  tucked  into  his  boots,  on  a small  farm  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Mr.  Dent,  his  father-in-law,  south- 
west of  St.  Louis.  He  had  early  learned  to  “ rough  it  ” 
in  the  woods  of  the  West,  and  among  the  vats  of  the 
tannery.  Had  you  been  in  St.  Louis,  you  might  have 
seen  him  in  the  winter,  mounted  on  his  wagon,  in  which 
a cord  of  wood  was  well  packed,  and  driving  the  team 
into  the  city.  Citizens  of  St.  Louis  recollect  the  plainly- 
dressed  man  who  came  with  his  load,  delivered  it  to  the 
purchaser,  and  returned  to  his  country  retreat. 

With  the  hot  Southern  summer  came  leisure  from 


28 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  woodman’s  traffic,  and  our  hero  must  look  for  lighter 
work.  His  fine  education  qualified  him  for  any  busi- 
ness, and  his  character  attracted  the  confidence  of  all. 
His  neighbors  were  glad  to  employ  and  aid  a stranger 
who  was  so  generous  and  true  as  Captain  Grant.  He 
was  just  the  collector  some  of  them  wanted  to  “ dun  ” 
negligent  debtors.  They  therefore  put  into  his  hands 
their  debts.  Like  all  the  truly  noble  men  of  the  world, 
he  was  honest  and  sincere  in  his  dealings ; and,  trusting 
too  readily  to  the  apologies  and  promises  of  delinquent 
debtors,  he  had  but  small  success.  His  failure  reminds 
one  of  the  forcible  proverb  : “ It  takes  a rogue  to  catch  a 
rogue.”  That  is  to  say,  a pure-minded  person,  unused  to 
business  contact  with  the  unprincipled  and  vicious,  makes 
a poor  detective  of  rogues. 

The  Captain  found  that  he  was  not  made  for  a tax- 
gatherer  or  an  auctioneer,  or  even  a farmer.  He  was 
neither  a talker,  schooled  to  hard,  suspicious  dealings 
with  his  fellows,  nor  in  the  economical  management  of  a 
farm.  Military  culture  and  habits  were  exactly  the  oppo- 
site in  their  fruits  of  character.  Law,  order,  promptness, 
and  manly  bearing,  were  the  lessons  which  had  followed 
those  of  a virtuous  and  humble  home. 

The  year  1859  brought,  therefore,  a change  again  in 
the  plans  of  Grant.  His  tannery  education  now  served 
him  well.  From  'his  father  in  the  West  came  a proposi- 
tion to  go  into  the  leather  and  saddlery  trade  with  him. 
What  a singular  and  pleasant  fact ! The  hero  of  Chapul- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


29 


tepee  again  called  by  parental  love  to  handle  the  tanned 
skins  of  cattle  and  sheep,  and  even  horses,  instead  of  the 
burnished  sword  and  the  military  cap. 

He  removed  to  the  city  of  Galena,  on  the  banks  of 
Fevre  river,  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois.  The  broad 
stream  pours  its  waters  into  the  Mississippi  only  six  miles 
below  the  town.  Along  the  river  the  shores  rise  to 
highlands  or  bluffs,  sometimes  very  steep  and  grand. 
Galena  is  built  on  one  of  these.  The  streets  consequently 
rise  one  above  the  other,  like  paths  on  a hillside,  with 
steps  between  them.  It  was  not  only,  as  you  see,  a 
curious  and  picturesque  city,  but,  being  near  the  Missis- 
sippi and  having  a good  harbor,  was  a centre  of  com- 
mercial life,  of  trade  and  resort,  for  a large  region 
lying  back  of  it.  Soon  the  new  sign  of  “ Grant  & 
Son  ” began  to  attract  customers.  The  soldier  re- 
calls his  early  knowledge  of  the  business,  and  quietly 
talks  over  the  qualities  and  prices  of  his  piles  and  rolls 
of  leather. 

The  trade  prospers ; far  and  near  the  establishment 
becomes  known.  A great  many  shoemakers  work  up 
Captain  Grant’s  goods,  and  the  feet  of  his  customers 
wear  the  contribution  to  “ the  arts  of  peace  ” made  by  him. 
It  would  really  seem  as  if  the  Captain  had  settled  down 
into  a nice,  permanent  business,  and  his  name  would  be- 
come famous  as  a successful,  wealthy  leather  merchant. 
But  it  was  the  lull  before  a stormy  life.  An  Illinois  law- 
yer, in  the  autumn  of  1860,  was  elected  President  of  the 


30 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


United  States.  The  Southern  politicians,  who  had  for 
nearly  half  a century  controlled  the  councils  of  the  nation 
with  a sleepless  regard  to  the  continuance  of  slavery,  all  the 
time  desiring  and  hoping  that  the  time  of  separation  from 
the  laboring  North  would  come,  were  angry  at  the  election 
of  Mr.  Lincoln.  Then  came,  you  will  recollect,  secession 
at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and,  a few  months  later,  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumter.  This  was  a declaration  of  war  by 
the  South.  That  is  to  say,  the  thunder  of  the  cannon 
around  this  fortress,  named  after  the  brave  Gen.  Thomas 
Sumter,  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  who  was  called,  on 
account  of  his  successful  bravery,  “ the  Carolina  Game 
Cock,”  revealed  the  dark  plot  of  disunion,  and  the  purpose 
to  fight  for  it.  The  President,  who  is  the  commander-in- 
chief of  all  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  asked  for 
volunteers  to  meet  the  terrible  necessity  of  bloody  war. 
Captain  Grant  was  a loyal  soldier,  and  his  patriotism  shone 
the  more  brightly  because  he  did  not  belong  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  had  to  some  extent  the  feelings  of  a 
citizen  of  the  South. 

One  morning,  on  reaching  the  store,  and  reading  in  the 
morning  paper  the  account  of  the  bombardment  of  Sum- 
ter, he  walked  round  the  counter,  drew  on  his  coat,  and 
remarked : “ Uncle  Sam  educated  me  for  the  army,  aud, 
although  I have  served  faithfully  through  one  war,  I feel 
that  I am  still  a little  in  debt  for  my  education,  and  I am 
ready  and  willing  to  discharge  the  obligation.”  He  the?* 
said : “ I am  for  the  war,  to  put  down  this  wicked  rebellion 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


31 


Noble  and  high  resolve  ! The  true-hearted  wife  would 
not,  had  it  been  possible,  dissuade  him  from  it.  The  store 
was  deserted.  Captain  Grant  went  into  the  street,  con- 
sulted with  a few  men,  and  soon  succeeded  in  raising  a 
company,  with  which  he  went  to  Springfield,  and  tendered 
it  to  the  Governor. 

An  Illinois  representative  also  called  upon  Governor 
Yates,  to  recommend  to  him  Mr.  Grant  as  a fit  person  for 
some  military  position.  The  Governor,  having  received 
applications  from  men  over  six  feet  in  height  and  of  mus- 
cular frames,  curiously  eyed  the  small  man,  attired  in 
homespun,  who  stood  before  him  as  an  applicant. 

President,  governors,  and  people  were  like  men  awak- 
ing from  sleep  when  the  civil  strife  began.  They  hardly 
knew  how  to  meet  the  new  and  alarming  crisis.  And,  as 
the  story  goes,  Governor  Yates  had  no  appointment  for 
Grant,  and  he  therefore  left. 

A short  time  after  this  occurrence,  the  Governor 
was  very  much  distressed  in  regard  to  the  raising  of 
the  quota  of  the  State.  He  had  plenty  of  offers  for 
officers’  positions,  but  he  personally  did  not  know  the 
minutiae  of  regimental  organizations, — how  many  privates 
composed  a company,  or  how  many  subordinate  officers 
there  should  be  in  a regiment.  In  his  embarrassment  he 
asked  the  representative  if  that  plain  little  man  to  whom 
he  had  been  introduced  knew  anything  of  those  matters. 
The  representative  replied  by  bringing  Grant  into  the 
Governor’s  presence. 


32 


LIFE  OF  GENEJRAL  GRANT. 


“ Do  you  understand  the  organization  of  troops  ? ” 
inquired  the  Governor. 

The  reply  was  in  the  affirmative. 

“ Will  you  accept  a desk  in  my  office  for  that  pur- 
pose ? ” was  the  nest  question. 

“ Anything  to  serve  my  country,”  was  his  reply. 

And  to  work  he  at  once  went ; and  but  for  this, 
Captain  Grant  might  still  be  unknown  to  the  world. 

To  show  you  the  spirit  of  the  loyal  Governor,  and  that 
he  was  just  the  man  to  appreciate  Grant,  soon  as  he  knew 
him,  here  is  a part  of  the  letter  he  wrote  to  a citizen  of 
Oskaloosa,  who  complained  that  traitors  had  cut  down  his 
flag,  and  inquired  what  he  should  do.  The  patriotic  Yates 
replied  as  follows:  “ You  say  that  the  pole  which  floated 
the  Stars  and  Stripes  on  the  Fourth  of  July  was  cut  down 
by  secessionists,  and  that,  at  a picnic  which  you  are  to  have, 
it  is  threatened  that  the  flag  shall  be  taken  down,  and  you 
ask  me  whether  you  would  be  justifiable  in  defending  the 
flag  with  firearms.  I am  astonished  at  this  question,  as 
much  as  if  you  were  to  ask  me  whether  you  would  have  a 
right  to  defend  your  property  against  robbers,  or  your  life 
against  murderers  ! You  ask  me  what  you  shall  do?  I 
reply,  Do  not  raise  the  American  flag  merely  to  provoke 
your  secession  neighbors  ; do  not  be  on  the  aggressive  ; but 
whenever  you  raise  it  on  your  own  soil,  or  on  the  public 
property  of  the  States  or  county,  or  at  any  public  celebra- 
tion, from  honest  love  to  the  flag  and  patriotic  devotion  to 
the  country  which  it  symbolizes,  and  any  traitor  dares  to 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


33 


lay  his  unhallowed  hand  upon  it  to  tear  it  down,  shoot 
him  as  you  would  a dog , and  I will,  goardon  you  for  the 
offence .” 

The  volunteers  poured  in  from  the  magnificent  prairies 
of  Illinois.  Captain  Grant  had  shown  the  Governor  that 
he  knew  how  to  raise  and  manage  men  ; his  State  taking 
the  first  place  in  the  great  West  in  the  noble  and  priceless 
offering  of  her  sons.  I recollect  one  of  these  prairie  farm- 
ers, of  whom  I must  tell  you.  He  was  a youthful  and  de- 
voted son,  living  with  his  parents  on  beautiful  land,  whose 
rising  harvest  seemed  to  say  to  the  volunteer,  “ Don’t  go 
away.”  The  tearful,  parental  eyes,  while  the  lips  by  silence 
gave  consent  to  his  departure,  added,  “ How  can  we  spare 
you  ? ” But  treason  was  abroad,  and  his  language  was, 
“ I must  go.  I freely  give  my  life  to  my  country.  My 
farm  is  worthless  unless  rebellion  is  crushed,  and  life  itself 
of  no  account.”  In  one  of  the  first  battles  he  was  wounded. 
When  the  wound  healed,  and  his  arm  hung  useless  by  his 
side,  with  a ragged  bullet  hole  in  his  military  coat,  he  said : 
“ I only  ask  to  go  again,  and  see  it  through , even  if  I fall  in 
battle.  But  war  is  a perfect  despotism.  The  soldier  is 
nothing  but  a machine.  When  told  to  go,  he  must  march ; 
when  commanded  to  stand  still,  he  must  stop.  Yet  it  is 
right ; unquestioned  authority  is  necessary  over  such 
masses  of  men.” 

This  style  of  hero  was  just  what  Grant  admired, 
for  he  was  of  the  same  type.  And  he  longed  for 
the  field  of  conflict.  His  untiring  and  earnest  work  in 


3 


34 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  mustering  deparment,  did  not  satisfy  his  martial 
spirit.  The  Governor  knew  this. 

In  two  weeks,  the  Governor  told  him  he  was  called 
upon  by  the  President  to  send  two  names  for  the  office  of 
brigadier-general;  and  proposed  his  name  for  one  of  them. 
The  Captain,  now  Adjutant,  declined  the  honor  because 
he  was  a stranger.  He  never  sought  promotion,  but 
earned  it. 

After  the  great  work  of  meeting  the  call  upon  his 
State  was  finished,  about  the  middle  of  June,  1861,  Cap- 
tain Grant  repaired  to  his  father’s  house  in  Covington, 
Ky. ; a dutiful  son,  who  knew  that  it  might  be  his  last 
visit  there.  "We  shall  never  read  a record  of  the  ten- 
der words  from  the  now  venerable  father,  nor  of  filial 
affection  from  the  worthy  son. 

While  under  the  paternal  roof,  a commission  was 
issued  by  Governor  Yates,  making  the  late  adjutant-gen- 
eral, colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers, dated  June  15,  1861.  At  first,  a fine-looking  man 
was  chosen  colonel ; but,  haying  no  military  capacity,  the 
regiment  fell  into  disorder,  and  became  the  terror  of  the 
neighborhood  where  it  was  encamped.  The  Governor 
refused  to  commission  the  nominee  of  the  regiment,  and, 
by  telegraph,  inquired  if  Grant  would  take  the  troops,  and 
bring  the  turbulent  mass  to  order.  His  reply  was  like 
him, — he  was  ready,  and  sure  of  success. 

A full  regiment  numbers  about  one  thousand  soldiers. 
But  the  term  sometimes  indicates  more,  and  often  less ; 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


35 


as  when,  after  disease  and  bullets  have  done  their 
work,  not  more' than  half  or  a third  of  the  original  number 
remain.  Not  far  from  this  very  time,  a splendid  regiment 
crowded  in  long  and  glittering  lines  Washington  street, 
Boston,  from  one  curb-stone  to  the  other.  A year  after- 
ward I saw  only  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  left,  able  to 
march,  with  blackened  and  torn  banners,  and  their  apparel 
and  faces  nearly  as  dark  with  exposure  and  powder-smoke. 
They  still  bore  their  proud  name,  as  when  the  multitude 
admired  and  cheered  their  full  and  manly  ranks. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Three  Months  Men — Colonel  Grant  joins  his  Regiment— In  Camp — Off  for 
the  Field  of  Action — A Rapid  March— Promotion — Grant  loses  no  Time 
— He  is  Commissioned  Brigadier-General— A Good  Story — Headquarters 
at  Cairo — A True  American— He  seizes  Paducah — Secession  Flags — A 
Noble  Proclamation — The  “Stove-pipe  General.” 


owners. 


)HEN  the  first  call  for  volunteers  was  issued,  it 
was  believed  that  the  secessionists  would  be 
confined  almost  entirely  to  South  Carolina,  and 
a few  in  others  of  the  cotton-growing  States, 
where  the  slaves  were  most  valuable  to  their 
For  this  reason  only  seventy-five  thousand  sol- 
diers, to  serve  three  months,  were  asked  for  in  all  the 
Northern  States.  The  Twenty -first  Illinois  belonged  to  the 
number ; but  they  said  if  Grant  commanded,  and  they  were 
needed  longer,  they  would  reenlist.  The  brave  fellows  were 
as  good  as  their  word.  Colonel  Grant  hastened  to  his  own 
State,  and  joined  his  regiment  at  Mattoon,  where  it  was 
organized.  He  then  removed  the  troops  to  Casseyville  for 
encampment.  As  if  by  magic,  the  gathering  volunteers 
were  transferred  to  the  little  canvas  city,  with  its  guards  and 
sentinels,  its  frequent  drill,  and  all  the  means  of  prepara- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


37 


tion  for  the  field  of  deadly  conflict.  "Without  display  of 
authority  or  noise,  the  Colonel  kindly  enforced  the  sever- 
est discipline,  setting  the  example  of  obedience  to  supe- 
riors, and  of  simplicity  in  style  of  living.  For  a month 
this  training  continued,  relieved  by  the  presence  of  citizens 
to  look  upon  the  novel  scene  in  our  hitherto  peaceful  land, 
and  the  more  welcome  visits  to  the  soldiers  from  so  many 
Western  homes,  of  sister,  wife,  and  mother. 

An  application  was  made  to  the  Governor  to  send  a 
regiment  to  Quincy,  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  distant. 
The  trouble  with  the  Governor  was  not  the  want  of  men, 
but  the  lack  of  transportation. 

“ Send  my  regiment,”  said  Grant,  “ and  I will  find  the 
transportation.” 

The  command  was  given,  and  before  night  the  regi- 
ment was  under  orders  to  march.  On  foot  it  was  trans- 
ported to  Quincy ; and  when  the  men  were  there  en- 
camped, they  were  reported  as  belonging  to  one  of  the 
best  disciplined  regiments  of  Illinois  volunteers. 

At  length  the  welcome  order  to  the  men  came,  to 
strike  tents  and  be  ready  to  march  away  to  the  field  of 
conflict,  turning  their  backs  upon  the  scenes  and  friends 
of  former  days,  perhaps  forever. 

The  soldiers  get  very  tired  of  the  camp  life.  There  is 
such  monotony  ; no  excitement  of  any  importance,  and  but 
little  to  do.  They  prefer  the  toils  of  warfare  and  the  storm 
of  bullets,  to  the  dull  security  of  encampment. 

Oh,  it  was  a stirring  scene  on  the  morning  of  the 


38 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


march ! The  boys  packed  the  knapsacks,  rolled  up  the 
blankets,  and  down  with  the  tents  in  a hurry.  Colonel 
Grant  rode  at  the  head  of  the  columns,  which  formed  in 
glad  haste  at  the  word  of  command.  His  calm  face  was 
lit  up  with  rational  delight. . The  natural  lent  of  his  genius, 
his  years  of  experience  in  military  affairs,  and,  more  than 
all  else,  the  sacred  cause  which  led  him  away  to  the  ene- 
my’s lines,  inspired  him  with  hope  and  courage.  Reaching 
the  Mississippi  River,  the  troops  embarked,  and  in  fine  style 
crossed  the  Father  of  Waters  into  Missouri.  Then  they 
swept  along  the  war-path  with  rapid  marches,  leaving 
behind  them,  in  six  days,  a distance  of  one  hundred  miles. 
The  cars  then  bore  them  on  as  much  further  in  a few 
hours,  toward  Northern  Missouri.  Their  first  duty  was  to 
guard  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph’s  Railroad,  lying  nearly 
west  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to 
the  map,  and  connecting  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  rivers. 
It  is  one  of  the  railways  which  forms  a link  in  the  great 
chain  of  iron  tracks  connecting  the  vast  and  growing  West 
with  the  older  and  enterprising  East.  The  indispensable 
army  work  assigned  to  Colonel  Grant’s  troop,  was  very 
forcibly  apparent  in  a recent  visit  to  the  Potomac  “ front.” 
For  more  than  sixty  miles  from  Washington,  through  the 
Old  Dominion,  which  was  one  wide  desert,  with  graves  and 
carcasses  of  horses  and  mules,  over  which  the  crows  were 
flying  in  myriads,  the  military  road  was  protected  by 
encampments  of  troops,  looking  in  the  distance  like  vil- 
lages of  white  tents  and  log  cabins,  a few  miles  apart.  At 


LIFE  OF  GENEEAL  GEANT. 


39 


some  points  “block  bouses”  were  built,  from  whose  second 
story  the  road  could  be  seen  in  both  directions,  and  the 
deadly  bullet  fired. 

Several  regiments  had  been  ordered  on  this  service, 
having  their  headquarters  in  Northern  Missouri,  and 
wanted  a general.  Who  shall  have  this  honor,  from  asso- 
ciates equally  willing  to  accept  it,  till  a regular  appoint- 
ment is  made  ? Although  the  youngest  colonel  on  the 
ground,  Colonel  Grant  was  selected,  and  became  acting 
brigadier-general — another  step  in  the  line  of  promotion. 

He  took  this  command  on  the  31st  of  July,  1861,  at  a 
place  called  Mexico,  on  the  North  Missouri  Railroad,  south 
of  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph's.  It  was  in  the  “ District 
of  North  Missouri,”  and  in  the  department  of  General 
Pope.  The  whole  field  of  military  operations  is  divided 
into  distinct  territories,  each  under  the  command  of  a gen- 
eral who  has  the  direction  of  its  martial  movements. 

August  9th,  Grant  was  commissioned  brigadier-general, 
and  ordered  to  Southern  Missouri,  when  General  Jeff. 
Thompson  was  ready  to  advance  upon  us.  He  went  to 
Ironton,  and  then  to  Marble  Creek,  where  he  built  fortifi- 
cations and  placed  a garrison  to  defend  it.  Jefferson  City 
was  threatened,  too,  and  he  hurried  on  to  that  town.  For 
ten  days  his  forces  protected  the  place. 

A member  of  the  hero’s  staff  relates  an  amusing  and 
characteristic  story  of  him  during  his  Missouri  campaigns  : 

“ The  hero  and  veteran,  who  was  citizen,  captain,  colo- 
nel, brigadier  and  major-general  within  a space  of  nine 


40 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


months,  though  a rigid  disciplinarian,  and  a perfect  Iron- 
sides in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  could  enjoy  a 
good  joke,  and  is  always  ready  to  perpetrate  one  when  an 
opportunity  presents.  Indeed,  among  his  acquaintances 
he  is  as  much  renowned  for  his  eccentric  humor  as  he  is 
for  his  skill  and  bravery  as  a commander. 

“ When  Grant  was  a brigadier  in  Southeast  Missouri, 
he  commanded  an  expedition  against  the  rebels  under  Jeff. 
Thompson,  in  Northeast  Arkansas.  The  distance  from 
the  starting  point  of  the  expedition  to  the  supposed  rendez- 
vous of  the  rebels  was  about  one  hundred  and  ten  miles, 
and  the  greater  portion  of  the  route  lay  through  a howling 
wilderness.  The  imaginary  suffering  that  our  soldiers 
endured  during  the  first  two  days  of  their  march  was 
enormous.  It  was  impossible  to  steal  or  “ confiscate  ” un- 
cultivated real  estate,  and  not  a hog,  or  a chicken,  or  an 
ear  of  corn  was  anywhere  to  be  seen.  On  the  third  day, 
however,  affairs  looked  more  hopeful,  for  a few  small 
specks  of  ground,  in  a state  of  partial  cultivation,  were 
here  and  there  visible.  On  that  day,  Lieutenant  Wick- 
field,  of  an  Indiana  cavalry  regiment,  commanded  the 
advance  guard,  consisting  of  eight  mounted  men.  About 
noon  he  came  up  to  a small  farmhouse,  from  the  outward 
appearance  of  which  he  judged  that  there  might  be  some- 
thing fit  to  eat  inside.  lie  halted  his  company,  dismount- 
ed, and  with  two  second  lieutenants  entered  the  dwelling. 
He  knew  that  Grant’s  incipient  fame  had  already  gone  out 
through  all  that  country,  and  it  occurred  to  him  that  by 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


41 


representing  himself  to  be  the  general  he  might  obtain  the 
best  the  house  afforded.  So,  assuming  a very  imperative 
demeanor,  he  accosted  the  inmates  of  the  house,  and  told 
them  he  must  have  something  for  himself  and  staff  to  eat. 
They  desired  to  know  who  he  was,  and  he  told  them  that 
he  was  Brigadier-General  Grant.  At  the  sound  of  that 
name  they  flew  around  with  alarming  alacrity,  and  served 
up  about  all  they  had  in  the  house,  taking  great  pains  all 
the  while  to  make  loud  professions  of  loyalty.  The  lieu- 
tenants ate  as  much  as  they  could  of  the  not  over-sumptu- 
ous meal,  but  which  was,  nevertheless,  good  for  that  coun- 
try, and  demanded  what  was  to  pay.  ‘ Nothing.’  And 
they  went  on  their  way  rejoicing. 

“ In  the  mean  time  General  Grant,  who  had  halted  his 
army  a few  miles  .further  back  for  a brief  resting  spell, 
came  in  sight  of,  and  was  rather  favorably  impressed  with 
the  appearance  of  this  same  house.  Riding  up  to  the 
fence  in  front  of  the  door,  he  desired  to  know  if  they 
would  cook  him  a meal. 

“ 1 No,’  said  a female,  in  a gruff  voice  ; ‘ General 
Grant  and  his  staff  have  just  been  here,  and  eaten  every- 
thing in  the  house  except  one  pumpkin  pie.’ 

“ 1 Humph,’  murmured  Grant ; ‘ what  is  your  name  ? ’ 

“ ‘ Selvidge,’  replied  the  woman. 

“ Casting  a half  dollar  in  at  the  door,  he  asked  if  she 
would  keep  that  pie  till  he  sent  an  officer  for  it;  to  which 
she  replied  that  she  would. 

“That  evening,  after  the  camping  ground  had  been 


42 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


selected,  the  various  regiments  were  notified  that  there 
would  be  a grand  parade  at  half  past  six,  for  orders. 
Officers  would  see  that  their  men  all  turned  out,  &c. 

“ In  five  minutes  the  camp  was  in  a perfect  uproar,  and 
filled  with  all  sorts  of  rumors.  Some  thought  the  enemy 
were  upon  them,  it  being  so  unusual  to  have  parades  when 
on  a march. 

“At  half  past  six  the  parade  was  formed,  ten  columns 
deep,  and  nearly  a quarter  of  a mile  in  length. 

“After  the  usual  routine  of  ceremonies  the  acting 
assistant  adjutant-general  read  the  following  order  : 

'“HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  IN  THE  FIELD. 

‘“Special  Okdee,  No.  . 

“ ‘ Lieutenant  Wickfield,  of  the Indiana  cavalry,  having  on  this 

day  eaten  everything  in  Mrs.  Selvidge’s  house,  at  the  crossing  of  the 
Ironton  and  Pocahontas  and  Black  River  and  Cape  Girardeau  roads, 
except  one  pumpkin  pie,  Lieutenant  Wickfield  is  hereby  ordered  to 
return  with  an  escort  of  one  hundred  cavalry,  and  eat  that  pie  also. 

“ ‘ U.  S.  Grant, 

“ 1 Brigadier-General  Commanding.’  ’’ 

Grant’s  orders  were  law,  and  no  soldier  ever  attempted 
to  evade  them.  At  7 o'clock  the  lieutenant  filed  out  of 
camp  with  his  hundred  men,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  entire 
army.  The  escort  concurred  in  stating  that  he  devoured 
the  whole  of  the  pie,  and  seemed  to  relish  it. 

The  next  mark  of  confidence  in  him  by  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  of  advancing  greatness,  was  his  appointmeut 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


43 


to  the  important  post  of  Cairo.  This  town,  you  will 
notice,  lies  upon  a point  of  low  land  on  the  Mississippi 
shore,  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  country  around  it  is 
called  “ Egypt.”  Its  position  gave  it  great  value  to  the 
Union  cause.  It  guarded  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  River, 
aud  was  the  key  to  the  waters  above.  Here  supplies,  and 
all  the  means  of  carrying  on  the  war  in  that  vast  region, 
could  he  received.  "When  General  Grant  made  his  head- 
cpiarters  at  Cairo,  with  General  McClernand’s  brigade  added 
to  his  troops,  his  department  of  command  extended  along 
the  shores  of  the  Mississippi  as  far  as  Cape  Girardeau.  He 
now  had  a field  of  action  large  enough  to  reveal  his 
strength,  and  develop  his  fine  qualities  of  generalship. 
At  this  early  stage  of  the  rebellion,  Kentucky  tried  to 
stand  alone — i.  e.,  to  be  neutral ; neither  loyal  to  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  nor  under  the  flag  of  secession.  It  seems 
ridiculous  as  well  as  shamefully  wrong,  when  we  think  of 
so  absurd  a position.  The  rebels  were  the  first  to  make  it 
impossible.  They  did  not  care  nor  try  to  find  and  keep 
the  boundary  between  Tennessee  and  Kentucky ; but, 
whenever  convenient,  crossed  over  and  helped  themselves 
to  whatever  would  aid  their  cause. 

The  towns  of  Columbus  and  Hickman,  situated  on  the 
Mississippi  River,  within  the  limits  of  Kentucky,  were 
entered  and  fortified.  Bowling  Green,  on  the  Big  Barren 
River,  a tributary  of  Green  River,  and  at  the  head  of 
navigation,  one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles  from  Frank- 
fort, was  also  seized. 


44 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


General  Grant  heard  of  these  aggressions,  and  con- 
cluded it  was  his  turn  and  time  to  play  at  the  same 
game.  September  6,  1861,  he  sent  a body  of  troops  in 
steamers,  quietly  down  the  river  to  Paducah,  a town  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Tennessee,  which,  from  the  very  location,  was 
a post  highly  valued.  Nineteen  days  later,  he  repeated 
the  bold  action,  by  despatching  a force  to  Smithland,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland.  Thus  you  will  readily  per- 
ceive, that  he  not  only  followed  up  closely  the  policy  of 
the  rebels,  but  gained  power  by  blockading  the  rivers 
which  opened  channels  of  trade  into  their  confederacy. 
Bread,  arms,  and  other  supplies  were  cut  off,  which  hither- 
to had  floated  over  those  streams  undisturbed.  These 
points  also  became  'tributary  to  his  army  operations,  and 
aided  materially  in  driving  out  the  guerillas  on  the  Ohio 
River  below  them. 

The  real  insincerity  of  Kentucky  then,  and  the  wicked- 
ness of  betraying  her  high  trust,  was  seen  in  the  flaunt- 
ing flags  of  secession  flying  in  the  breeze  over  Paducah, 
when  the  Union  forces  marched  into  its  streets.  These 
banners  were  designed  to  welcome  the  troops  of  trea- 
son, who  were  advancing  four  thousand  strong,  and  ex- 
pected soon,  instead  of  our  own,  by  the  inhabitants. 

When  we  speak  of  Kentucky,  we  mean  the  State  in 
its  relation  to  the  Government,  and  not  of  all  the  people 
living  in  it.  For,  from  the  beginning  of  the  terrible  rebel- 
lion, very  many  citizens  were  loyal  to  the  old  flag  ; and  soon 
as  it  was  borne  along  the  streets,  upheld  by  gleaming  bay- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


45 


onets  and  followed  by  cannon,  they  rose,  like  Roderick 
Dhu’s  men,  in  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  beautiful  story,  “The 
Lady  of  the  Lake,”  out  of  the  forest  brakes,  from  their  con- 
cealment, and  with  shouts  of  joy  hailed  the  “ Star-spangled 
Banner.”  General  Grant,  soon  as  he  had  gained  complete 
possession,  leaving  open  no  communication  with  the  enemy, 
issued  a proclamation,  remarkable  for  calm  and  prudent 
tone,  designed  to  encourage  the  true-hearted  people,  and 
disarm  the  excited  and  misguided  subjects  of  Jeff.  Davis — 
the  great  defender  and  bloody  advocate  of  rebellion,  seces- 
sion, and  American  slavery.  Here  is  the  famous  procla- 
mation : 

Paducah,  Kt.,  September  6,  1861. 

To  the  Citizens  of  Paducah : I am  come  among  you,  not  as  an 
enemy,  but  as  your  fellow  citizen.  Not  to  maltreat  you,  nor  annoy 
you,  but  to  respect  and  enforce  the  rights  of  all  loyal  citizens.  An 
enemy  in  rebellion  against  our  common  Government  has  taken  pos- 
session of,  and  planted  his  guns  upon  the  soil  of  Kentucky,  and  fired 
upon  you.  Columbus  and  Hickman  are  in  his  hands.  He  is  moving 
upon  your  city.  I am  here  to  defend  you  against  this  enemy,  to  assist 
the  authority  and  sovereignty  of  your  Government.  I have  nothing 
to  do  with  opinions , and  shall  deal  only  with  armed  rebellion,  and  its 
aiders  and  abettors.  You  can  pursue  your  usual  avocations  without 
fear.  The  strong  arm  of  the  Government  is  here  to  protect  its 
friends  and  punish  its  enemies.  Whenever  it  is  manifest  that  you 
are  able  to  defend  yourselves,  and  maintain  the  authority  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  protect  the  rights  of  loyal  citizens,  I shall  withdraw  the 
forces  under  my  command.  U.  S.  Grant, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 


46 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


In  keeping  •with  the  plain,  noble  words  of  the  com- 
mander, was  his  appearance  at  headquarters  in  camp  at 
Cairo.  Had  you  been  sent  to  look  for  him,  you  might 
have  believed  that  officer  with  dashing  uniform,  whose 
gilt  buttons  and  shoulderstraps  shone  in  the  sunlight,  and 
whose  air  was  that  of  conscious  power,  to  be  our  hero. 
But  you  would  have  to  look  again  ; and,  passing  by  all  the 
showy  generals,  colonels,  and  captains,  fix  the  eye  on 
that  still,  plain  man,  whose  clothes  are  scarcely  better 
than  those  of  a common  soldier,  with  an  unadorned  black 
and  bruised  felt  hat  on  his  head,  smoking,  with  a thought- 
fully careless  air,  a cigar.  I wish  we  could  leave  out  the 
cigar  ; smoking,  and  chewing  tobacco  is  condemned  by  all 
sensible  persons,  even  those  who  have  the  habit,  as  nearly 
always  useless,  if  not  injurious.  Still,  good  men  in  early 
life  acquire  a taste  for  the  weed,  and  then  it  is  hard  to  give 
it  up.  General  Grant  belongs  to  this  class,  we  must  allow. 
Some  allusion  was  made,  one  day,  to  General  Grant’s 
“ stove-pipe  ” hat,  and  his  constant  companion,  a cigar,  in 
a sarcastic  tone ; when  an  enthusiastic  friend  wittily  re- 
plied : “ Such  a bright  stove-pipe  as  Grant  should  be  ex- 
cused for  smoking 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Columbus— Exchange  of  Prisoners — Battles — General  Grant  -writes  to  his 
Father — Cares  for  the  Wounded— A New  Department  of  Command — 
Prepares  for  a Grand  Movement  upon  the  Enemy — His  Strategy — Issues 
Orders— The  Advance. 


OLUMBUS,  eighteen  miles  below,  was  an  im- 
portant  position,  from  which  the  movement  on 
Paducah  was  made  by  the  rebels.  So  the  Gen- 
pSS?  eral  thought  he  would  pay  the  enemy  a visit 
^ there.  But  just  as  he  was  getting  ready  with 

troops  to  do  so,  the  Government  demanded  five  regi- 
ments ; which  left  him  too  weak  to  seek,  with  hope  of  suc- 
cess, for  headquarters  in  Columbus.  Major-General  Bishop 
Polk  was  in  command  there,  with  twenty  thousand  men. 
A number  of  prisoners  of  war  had  been  taken  in  the  skir- 
mishes of  the  armies  ; and,  about  the  middle  of  October, 
General  Polk  and  General  Grant  had  correspondence  on 
the  subject  of  an  exchange.  General  Polk,  in  his  note, 
referred  to  the  “ Confederate  States ; ” to  which  Grant 
replied  : “ I recognize  no  ‘ Southern  Confederacy  ’ myself, 
but  will  communicate  with  higher  authorities  for  their 


I 


43 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


views.”  The  hero,  in  a patriotic  way,  was  decidedly 
“ spunky  ” in  the  affair.  Whatever  became  of  the  prison- 
ers, trusting  that  loyal  hearts  among  them  felt  as  he  did, 
he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  a proposition  which 
called  on  him  to  recognize  a government  founded  on  treason. 
While  thiswras  transpiring,  Brigadier-General  Jeff.  Thomp- 
son was  advancing  northward  in  Missouri.  General  Grant 
had  not  given  him  permission  to  do  so.  and  immediately 
determined  to  apprise  him  of  the  fact.  He  ordered  a part 
of  his  forces  under  Colonel  Plummer,  stationed  at  Cape 
Girardeau,  Mo.,  to  march  forward  to  Fredericktown,  and, 
joined  by  Colonel  Carlin,  advancing  from  another  direc- 
tion, cross  the  rebel  chieftain’s  path. 

The  mild,  soft  morning  of  October  21st  brought  the 
time  of  meeting  in  battle.  Thompson  had  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred  men,  who  fought  bravely ; but  they 
were  compelled  to  yield  to  Yankee  bullets  and  steel.  It  is 
true,  our  force  was  superior  by  a few  hundred  troops. 
For  two  hours  the  contest  lasted,  followed  the  next  day 
with  a pursuit  of  the  enemy  twenty-two  miles.  General 
Grant’s  reply  to  Colonel  Plummer’s  despatch,  conveying 
tidings  of  victory,  reveals  his  kind  and  noble  nature. 
After  congratulating  the  brave  troops  on  the  courage  and 
cheerful  submission  to  hardships  with  which  they  were 
willing  “ to  meet  their  rebellious  brethren,  even  at  great 
odds,”  he  adds : “ Our  loss,  small  as  it  was,  is  to  be 

regretted ; but  the  friends  and  relations  of  those  who  fell 
can  congratulate  themselves  in  the  midst  of  their  affliction, 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


49 


that  they  fell  in  maintaining  the  cause  of  constitutional 
freedom,  and  the  integrity  of  a flag  erected  in  the  first 
instance,  at  a sacrifice  of  many  of  the  noblest  lives  that 
ever  graced  a nation.” 

Colonel  Plummer  took  forty-two  prisoners,  an  iron 
twelve-pounder,  and  other  arms,  with  a number  of  horses. 
It  was  also  discovered  that  Confederate  forces  sent  from 
Columbus  to  cut  off  Colonel  Oglesby,  who  had  gone  to 
prevent  a junction  of  General  Price  with  General  Thomp- 
son, were  concentrating  at  Belmont.  General  Grant  re- 
solved to  go  himself  and  see  what  they  were  trying  to  do. 
He  gave  General  McClernand  command  Of  a brigade,  and 
led  another  himself.  The  troops  marched  from  Cairo 
November  6th,  1861.  and  were  soon  crowding  the  river 
steamers.  The  sim  was  high  when  they  landed,  the  next 
day,  at  Belmont.  Forming  immediately  into  line  of  bat- 
tle, they  moved  on  the  rebel  works,  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Cheatham.  The  dauntless  Union  forces  marched 
forward  toward  the  camp.  Between  it  and  them  was  an 
abatis  of  twenty  acres  of  fallen  timber ; i.  e.,  the  trees  so 
laid  and  pointed  as  to  make  it  difficult  as  possible  to  get 
over  or  through  them.  Onward  pressed  the  troops  into 
the  formidable  defence,  under  a deadly  storm  of  bullets  and 
enormous  shells,  which  came  shrieking  from  the  guns  at 
Columbus,  over  their  heads.  Down  went  General  Grant’s 
horse  under  him,  while  a rifle  ball  struck  General  McCler- 
nand, but  was  turned  from  its  fatal  mission  by  the  pistol 
in  his  holster.  Winding  among  stumps  and  creeping 
4 


50 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


through  houghs,  the  brave  three  thousand  reached  the  camp, 
and,  with  a wild,  exultant  shout,  they  charged  home,  and 
sent  the  seven  thousand  rebels,  or  more,  staggering  toward 
Columbus.  The  Union  forces  swept  into  the  enemy’s 
camp,  and  through  it ; and,  taking  the  battery  of  twelve 
guns,  burned  the  baggage,  leaving  only  smoking  ruins 
behind.  But  just  when  victory  seemed  folding  its  wings 
on  their  banners,  reenforcements  came  over  from  Columbus 
and  Hickman,  and  turned  the  tide  of  battle.  Our  troops 
retired  to  the  transports,  under  the  protecting  lire  of  the 
gunboats. 

General  Fremont,  then  at  the  head  of  the  department 
in  which  the  field  of  conflict  lay,  about  this  time  was 
superseded  by  General  Hunter. 

It  was  a brilliant  affair.  When  General  Halleck 
scanned  the  battle  with  his  fine  military  appreciation,  he 
said  : “ Grant  will  do  to  trust  an  army  with.” 

While  the  rebels  lost,  in  killed  and  wounded,  two 
thousand  eight  hundred,  General  Grant  lost,  in  all,  less 
than  six  hundred.  Of  the  cannon  taken,  two  were  cap- 
tured from  us  at  Bull  Run. 

Extracts  from  a letter  General  Grant  wrote  to  his 
father,  whom  he  did  not  forget  in  his  absorbing  work  on 
the  war  plains,  will  interest  the  reader.  It  bears  the 
date  of  October  8th,  1862  : 

“ I can  say,  with  great  gratification,  that  every  colonel, 
without  a single  exception,  set  an  example  to  their  com- 
mands that  inspired  a confidence  that  will  always  insure 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


51 


victory  when  there  is  the  slightest  possibility  of  gaining 
one.  I feel  truly  proud  to  command  such  men. 

“ From  here  we  fought  our  way  from  tree  to  tree 
through  the  woods  to  Belmont,  about  two  and  a half 
miles,  the  enemy  contesting  every  foot  of  ground.  Here 
the  enemy  had  strengthened  their  position  by  felling  the 
trees  for  two  or  three  hundred  yards,  and  sharpening 
their  limbs,  making  a sort  of  abatis.  Our  men  charged 
through,  making  the  victory  complete,  giving  us  possession 
of  their  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  artillery,  and  every- 
thing else. 

“We  got  a great  many  prisoners.  The  majority, 
however,  succeeded  in  getting  aboard  their  steamers  and 
pushing  across  the  river.  We  burned  everything  pos- 
sible, and  started  hack,  having  accomplished  all  that  we 
went  for,  and  even  more.  Belmont  is  entirely  covered 
by  the  batteries  from  Columbus,  and  is  worth  nothing  as 
a military  position — cannot  be  held  without  Columbus. 

“ The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  prevent  the 
enemy  from  sending  a force  into  Missouri  to  cut  off  troops 
I had  sent  there  for  a special  purpose,  and  to  prevent  re- 
enforcing Price. 

“ Besides  being  well  fortified  at  Columbus,  their  num- 
ber far  exceeded  ours,  and  it  would  have  been  folly  to 
have  attacked  them.  We  found  the  Confederates  well 
armed,  and  brave.  On  our  return,  stragglers,  that  had 
been  left  in  our  rear  (now  front),  fired  into  us,  and  more 
recrossed  the  river  and  gave  us  battle  for  a full  mile,  and 
afterward  at  the  boats,  when  we  were  embarking. 


52 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ There  was  no  hasty  retreating  or  running  away. 
Taking  into  account  the  object  of  the  expedition,  the 
victory  was  complete.  It  has  given  us  confidence  in  the 
officers  and  men  of  this  command,  that  will  enable  us  to 
lead  them  in  any  future  engagement  without  fear  of  the 
result.  General  McClernand  (who,  by  the  way,  acted 
with  great  coolness  and  courage  throughout,  and  proved 
that  he  is  a soldier  as  well  as  a statesman)  and  myself 
each  had  our  horses  shot  under  us.  Most  of  the  field 
officers  met  with  the  same  loss,  besides  nearly  one  third 
of  them  being  themselves  killed  or  wormded.  As  near  as 
I can  ascertain,  our  loss  was  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.” 

Soon  as  the  brigades  returned  to  Cairo,  the  General 
expressed  to  them  his  delight  in  their  heroism,  referring  to 
his  Mexican  campaigns  for  the  first  ami  only  time,  so  far 
as  we  know : 


Headquarters,  District  of  Southeast  Missouri,  i 
Cairo,  November  8, 1861.  > 

The  General  commanding  this  military  district  returns  his  thanks 
to  the  troops  under  his  command  at  the  battle  of  Belmont  on  yes- 
terday. 

It  has  been  his  fortune  to  have  been  in  all  the  battles  fought  in 
Mexico  by  Generals  Scott  and  Taylor,  save  Buena  Vista,  nnd_  he 
never  saw  one  more  hotly  contested,  or  where  troops  behaved  with 
more  gallantry. 

Such  courage  will  insure  victory  wherever  our  flag  may  be  borne 
and  protected  by  such  a class  of  men.  To  the  brave  men  who  fell, 
the  sympathy  of  the  country  is  due,  and  will  be  manifested  in  a man- 
ner unmistakable. 


U.  S.  Grant,  Brig.-Gen.  Commanding. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT.  5b 

But  the  noble  leader  in  the  strife  did  not  forget  that 
there  was  a third  class  of  men,  besides  the  living  in  the 
ranks  and  the  dead  which  had  left  them — the  wounded  in 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  When,  after  the  struggle,  Gen- 
eral Grant,  under  a flag  of  truce,  sent  a detachment  to 
bury  the  dead  and  remove  the  wounded,  they  heard  the 
song  of  “ The  Star-spangled  Banner  ” rising  on  the  still 
air.  Following  the  sound,  they  discovered  under  a tree 
a warrior  with  both  legs  mangled,  from  whose  feverish 
lips  the  national  anthem  rang  out  over  the  gory  plain. 
Of  such  material  was  the  chieftain’s  army  made. 

Another  incident  strikingly  illustrated  a mournful  pe- 
culiarity of  the  war — near  relatives  and  friends  fighting 
against  each  other.  Captain  Brooks,  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Illinois,  came  against  a corpse.  Looking  at  the 
dead  surgeon,  he  recognized  his  own  brother,  who,  he 
knew,  was  in  the  rebel  army,  but  had  no  intimation  where 
he  was  serving  the  cause  of  treason. 

The  rebels  had  not  the  means  then  in  our  power  to 
care  for  even  their  own  suffering  troops  on  the  red  and 
furrowed  field.  General  Grant  sent  a message  to  General 
Polk,  requesting  permission  to  have  all  these  helpless 
soldiers  taken  from  the  field,  and  provided  with  medical 
treatment  and  proper  attention.  General  Polk,  replied 
that  they  were  provided  for,  and  his  Government  required 
him  to  place  all  prisoners  at  the  disposal  of  the  Secretary 
of  War. 

Four  days  later— November  12th — General  Grant 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


54 

sent  to  the  Government  an  account  of  the  Belmont  fight. 
In  this  he  says  : 

“ The  balance  of  my  forces,  with  the  exception  of  the 
reserve,  was  then  thrown  forward — all  as  skirmishers — and 
the  enemy  driven  foot  by  foot,  and  from  tree  to  tree,  back 
to  their  encampment  on  the  river  bank,  a distance  of  two 
miles.  Here  they  had  strengthened  their  position  by  fell- 
ing the  timber  for  several  hundred  yards  around  their 
camp,  and  making  a sort  of  abatis.  Our  men  charged 
through  this,  driving  the  enemy  over  the  bank  into  their 
transports  in  quick  time,  leaving  us  in  possession  of  every- 
thing not  exceedingly  portable.  Belmont  is  on  low 
ground,  and  every  foot  of  it  is  commanded  by  the  guns 
on  the  opposite  shore,  and,  of  course,  could  not  be  field 
for  a single  hour  after  the  enemy  became  aware  of  the 
withdrawal  of  their  troops.  Having  no  wagons,  I could 
not  move  any  of  the  captured  property ; consequently,  I 
gave  orders  for  its  destruction.  Their  tents,  blankets,  &c., 
were  set  on  fire,  and  we  retired,  taking  their  artillery  with 
us,  two  pieces  being  drawn  by  hand ; and  one  other, 
drawn  by  an  inefficient  team,  we  spiked  and  left  in  the 
woods,  bringing  the  two  only  to  this  place.  Before  get- 
ting fairly  under  way,  the  enemy  made  his  appearance 
again,  and  attempted  to  surround  us.  Our  troops  were 
not  in  the  least  discouraged,  but  charged  on  the  enemy 
again,  and  defeated  him.  Our  loss  was  about  eighty-four 
killed,  one  hundred  and  fifty  wounded — many  of  them 
slightly — and  about  an  equal  number  missing.  Nearly  all 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


55 


the  missing  were  from  the  Iowa  regiment,  who  behaved 
with  great  gallantry,  and  suffered  more  severely  than  any 
other  of  the  troops.” 

Early  in  the  winter,  a new  order  of  things  commenced 
in  the  Western  army,  under  General  Halleck,  who  had 
been  called  from  California,  made  a major-general,  and  put 
in  command  of  the  Department  of  the  W est.  The  limits 
of  the  military  districts  were  more  clearly  defined,  and  a 
more  complete  control  given  to  the  officer  in  command. 
General  Grant  had  made  his  mark.  General  Halleck 
saw  in  him  a splendid  commander,  and,  after  enlarging 
the  district  of  Cairo  to  one  of  the  first  importance,  he 
put  it  in  charge  of  General  Grant.  Another  good  step 
was  taken  in  the  path  of  renown.  The  man,  as  the  boy 
had  been,  was  still  “ slow  and  sure  ” in  his  progress — 
noiseless  and  steady  in  his  course,  like  the  rising  sun. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  by  the  General,  in  his  larger 
field  of  action,  was  to  assign  to  the  commanders  under  him 
their  positions,  and  organize  the  new  troops  under  his 
authority.  These  recruits  were  fitted  for  service  and  sent 
to  Paducah,  Fort  Jefferson,  and  other  points,  to  be  ready 
for  combined  movements  on  the  enemy,  while  the  plan  of 
dividing-  the  forces  in  this  way,  would  make  it  quite  impos- 
sible for  the  rebels  to  guess  correctly  the  number  of  men 
in  General  Grant’s  department. 

When,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1862,  General 
McClernand  landed  at  Fort  Jefferson  with  his  forces, 
the  rebels  were  on  hand  with  armed  vessels.  So,  in 


56 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  morning,  after  the  troops  had  gone  ashore  under 
the  cover  of  the  cannon  of  two  gunboats,  these  pushed 
out  into  the  river  opposite  the  fort,  guarding,  like  two 
dark  sentinels,  the  transports  which  conveyed  the  men. 
It  was  a brief  watch.  Suddenly  three  armed  vessels 
appeared  moving  directly  upon  the  gunboats.  Then,  what 
a stir  of  preparation  for  a naval  engagement ! “ Boom  ! 

boom  ! ” go  the  heavy  guns  of  the  enemy ; and  a quick 
reply  of  louder  tone  flies  from  the  decks  of  the  waiting 
antagonist. 

Though  the  rebels  had  three  vessels  to  our  two,  after 
a brief  trial  of  strength,  the  prows  of  the  foe  were  turned 
toward  Columbus,  and  ours  in  hot  pursuit.  They  escaped 
only  by  getting  under  the  guns  of  that  fortress.  During 
these  preparations  for  grander  movements,  the  enemy’s 
pickets  had  shot  many  of  our  own  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Cairo.  My  young  readers  know  what  the  duty  of  these 
men  is.  They  are  sent  out  in  advance  of  the  armies,  to 
watch  the  enemy,  and  give  notice  of  an  advance.  It  is 
contrary  to  the  rules  of  honorable  warfare,  and  inhuman, 
to  designedly  kill  them.  It  often  happens,  that  random 
shot  and  shell  destroy  them.  A rebel  picket  was  found  in 
a garden  of  the  Southwest,  dead,  and  with  a rose  in  his 
hand,  which  he  was  plucking  when  the  fatal  messenger 
of  destruction  came  among  the  flowers. 

General  Grant  was  justly  indignant  at  the  murder  of 
his  soldiers,  who  in  the  cold  winter  time  had  to  stand  in 
the  chilly  air  long  hours,  with  nothing  to  amuse  or  cheer 


LIFE'  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


57 


them  hut  the  consciousness  of  fidelity  to  the  country,  and 
faith  in  God.  He  issued,  therefore,  the  following  order, 
reflecting  honor  upon  the  head  and  heart  of  its  author : 


Headquarters,  Cairo,  January  11,  1862. 

Brigadier-General  Paine,  Bird’s  Point : I understand  that  four 
of  our  pickets  were  shot  this  morning.  If  this  is  so,  and  appear- 
ances indicate  that  the  assassins  were  citizens,  not  regularly  organized 
in  the  rebel  army,  the  whole  country  should  be  cleared  out  for  six 
miles  around,  and  word  given  that  all  citizens  making  their  appear- 
ance within  those  limits  are  liable  to  be  shot. 

To  execute  this,  patrols  should  be  sent  out  in  all  directions,  and 
bring  into  camp,  at  Bird’s  Point,  all  citizens,  together  with  their 
subsistence,  and  require  them  to  remain,  under  the  penalty  of  death 
and  destruction  of  their  property,  until  properly  relieved. 

Let  no  harm  befal  these  people,  if  they  quietly  submit ; but 
bring  them  in  and  place  them  in  camp  below  the  breastwork,  and 
have  them  properly  guarded. 

The  intention  is  not  to  make  political  prisoners  of  these  people , 
but  to  cut  off  a dangerous  class  of  spies. 

This  applies  to  all  classes  and  conditions,  age  and  sex.  If,  how- 
ever, women  and  children  prefer  other  protection  than  we  can  afford 
them,  they  may  be  allowed  to  retire  beyond  the  limits  indicated — not 
to  return  until  authorized. 

By  order  of 

U.  S.  Grant,  Brig. -Gen.  Commanding. 

A great  expedition  was  in  prospect,  and  perfect  se- 
cresy  was  desirable,  as  intimated  in  the  order.  In  three 
columns,  led  by  Generals  Paine,  McClernand,  and  C.  F. 
Smith,  under  General  Grant,  the  large  army  of  nineteen 


58 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


regiments  of  infantry,  six  of  cavalry,  and  seven  batteries 
of  artillery,  were  to  move.  Their  destination  you  will 
learn  in  the  narrative  of  the  vast  enterprise.  When  this 
magnificent  war  machine  was  on  the  track,  awaiting  the 
will  of  the  competent  engineer,  he  gave  the  troops  an- 
other order,  which  equally  displays  wisdom  and  manly 
patriotism : 

“ Disgrace  having  been  brought  upon  our  brave  fel- 
lows by  the  bad  conduct  of  some  of  their  members,  show- 
ing on  all  occasions,  when  marching  through  territory 
occupied  by  sympathizers  of  the  enemy,  a total  disregard 
of  the  rights  of  citizens,  and  being  guilty  of  wanton 
destruction  of  private  property,  the  General  command- 
ing desires  and  intends  to  enforce  a change  in  this  re- 
spect. * * * 

“ It  is  ordered  that  the  severest  punishment  be  inflicted 
upon  every  soldier  who  is  guilty  of  taking  or  destroying 
private  property ; and  any  commissioned  officer  guilty  of 
like  conduct,  or  of  countenancing  it,  shall  be  deprived  of 
his  sword  and  expelled  from  the  camp,  not  to  be  permitted 
to  return.” 

It  was  now  just  midwinter.  The  Western  and  North- 
ern homes  still  retained  the  cheerful  light  left  by  the 
“ holidays  ; ” and  the  merry  bells  of  sleighing  rang  along 
the  streets  familiar  to  many  of  the  brave  volunteers.  In 
the  moving  host  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  the 
largest  proportion  had  no  other  experience  than  these 
pleasant  pastimes  amid  the  business  labors  of  peaceful  life. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


59 


They  now  look  on  the  broad  river,  filled  with  floating  ice, 
on  which  they  are  to  embark,  and  along  the  dreary  roads 
of  frost  and  mire  beyond,  and  think  of  home.  But  no 
faltering  and  no  complaint  from  “ the  boys,”  all  unused  to 
hardships,  is  seen  or  heard  in  those  ranks. 

McClernand  threatened  Columbus,  to  make  the  enemy 
believe  an  attack  was  at  hand ; while  Grant  sent  other 
divisions  around  in  the  rear,  to  ascertain  the  enemy’s 
strength.  In  six  days,  one  column  marched  more  than 
seventy -five  miles,  and  the  cavalry  force  one  hundred  and 
forty,  amid  storms  and  through  mud  and  water. 

The  very  important  discovery  was  made  by  the  daring 
and  perilous  expedition,  that,  between  Columbus  and  the 
Paducah  and  Maysfield  Railroad  lying  east  of  it,  the 
enemy’s  force  was  not  large  ; that  Columbus  itself  was 
weaker  than  had  been  supposed ; and  that  there  were 
indirect  roads  to  that  stronghold  not  upon  any  map,  afford- 
ing means  of  attack  unknown  before.  Indeed,  that  entire 
portion  of  Western  Kentucky  was  open  to  the  invasion 
of  Union  troops.  And  now  the  genius  of  the  hero,  in 
comprehensive,  daring  plans  of  campaign,  appears. 

The  Cumberland  and  Tennessee  rivers,  you  notice,  on 
the  boundary  of  Kentucky,  approach  each  other.  The 
distance  between  them,  there,  is  a dozen  miles.  On  the 
eastern  side  of  the  Tennessee,  the  enemy  had  built  the 
fortress,  Fort  Henry ; and  on  the  western  shore  of  the 
Cumberland  is  the  still  more  formidable  stronghold,  Fort 
Donelson.  You  will  see  the  great  importance  of  the  ram- 


60 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


parts  guarding  the  waters,  when  you  trace  these  to  the 
Ohio,  and  remember  that,  were  there  no  obstruction,  a 
Union  army  could  pass  from  that  river  to  the  very  centre 
of  the  treasonable  Confederacy. 

Commander  Foote,  of  the  navy,  had  been  sent  in 
the  autumn  of  1861  to  create  and  command  a fleet  of 
gunboats  on  the  Mississippi.  He  personally  superin- 
tended the  naval  enterprise,  and  had  now  ready  for 
service  seven  gunboats,  four  of  which  were  iron-clad. 
They  were  built  at  Cincinnati  and  St.  Louis,  then 
taken  to  Cairo  to  complete  the  outfit,  and  man  them. 
General  Grant  issued  orders,  when  the  crews  were  called 
for,  requesting  the  land  officers  not  to  interfere  with  the 
demand,  if  their  men  were  among  the  volunteers. 

All  this  time,  the  troops  were  holding  and  blockading 
the  ports  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland 
rivers.  Other  forces  on  land  and  water  kept  up  the  alarm 
at  Columbus,  by  firing  on  the  fort.  The  silent,  determined 
Grant,  was  getting  thoroughly  ready  to  make  a bold  push 
into  Kentucky. 

To  deceive  the  enemy,  if  possible,  is  regarded  as 
lawful  policy  in  war.  I suppose,  on  the  same  ground 
that  you  would  feel  it  right  to  defend  yourself  by  de- 
ception from  a maniac,  a person  frantic  with  passion  or 
strong  drink,  or  even  a ferocious  beast.  To  escape  or 
conquer,  by  creating  false  impressions  and  searching  out 
the  designs,  has  always  been  a part  of  the  strategy  and 
management  of  warfare. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


The  Gunboats  Move  up  the  Tennessee — Delay— Open  Fire  upon  Fort  Henry 
—The  Fort  Surrenders— Right  on  to  Fort  Donelson— The  Fleet  Disabled 
— Foote  Wounded — The  Forces  of  Grant  close  on  the  Fortress — The 
Terrific  Contest — The  Victory— Promotion — Striking  Contrasts. 


ORT  HENRY  was  to  be  the  first  goal  of  the 
grand  advance.  The  first  day  of  February  was 
the  Sabbath.  In  imagination  you  may  go  to 
27M  Cairo,  and  glance  at  its  scenes.  In  the  streets  it 
is  mud , mud , mud  ! Dirty  people,  dogs,  pigs,  and 
carts  are  mingled  in  ludicrous  confusion.  Though  a mild, 
sunny  day,  and  birds  are  singing,  nothing  else,  as  you 
look,  reminds  you  of  the  holy  time.  Steamers  ascend 
with  soldiers  on  the  river,  and  all  the  sights  of  a port  in 
time  of  war  during  the  week,  meet  you  in  your  walks 
about  the  town.  But  hark ! the  church  bells  toll  the 
hour  of  worship.  Sweet  music  amid  the  din  and  discord 
through  which  it  floats ! Enter  this  church,  and,  among 
the  many  soldiers,  there  is  the  nobly  true  and  devout 
Commodore  Foote.  His  fleet  are  ordered  to  keep  the 
Sabbath,  and  maintain  the  worship  of  God  in  the  ships. 


62 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


"With  an  army  and  navy  led  by  such  commanders, 
how  sublime  the  spectacle,  and  how  invincible  the  ad- 
vance in  a righteous  cause  ! If  you  visit  the  flagship  of 
the  Commodore,  he  will  show  you,  amid  the  fourteen 
heavy  guns  and  all  the  strong  machinery  of  those  dark 
engines  of  destruction,  the  Sacred  Place — a quiet  spot, 
where  those  who  desire  may  commune  with  God. 

It  is  Monday.  The  strange  fleet,  unseen  before  upon 
the  Western  rivers,  steams  from  Cairo  with  ten  regiments 
of  troops  in  accompanying  steamers,  and,  at  nightfall, 
wheels  into  the  Tennessee.  In  the  morning,  approaching 
Fort  Henry,  the  anchors  are  dropped  and  scouts  sent 
ashore. 

“ You  will  never  take  Fort  Henry  ! ” said  a woman  in 
a farmhouse  which  they  entered. 

“Oh,  yes,  we  shall.  We  have  a fleet  of  iron-clad 
gunboats,”  said  one. 

“Your  gunboats  will  be  blown  sky-high  before  they 
get  into  the  fort.” 

“ Ah  ! How  so  ? ” 

The  question  reminded  the  talking  woman  that  she 
was  telling  secrets,  and  she  said  no  more.  The  scouts 
informed  her  that  she  must  explain,  or  go  with  them  a 
prisoner.  She  then  said  : 

“ Why,  the  river  is  full  of  torpedoes ; and  they  will 
blow  up  your  gunboats.” 

The  intelligence  was  carried  to  the  Commodore,  and 
six  infernal  machines  raked  from  the  bottom.  The  plan 


LIFE  OF  GENEEAL  GRANT. 


63 


-was,  to  pour  shot  and  shell  upon  the  fort  from  the  river  in 
front,  and  drive  with  this  storm  of  iron  and  fiery  hail  the 
rebels  out,  for  General  Grant  to  catch  with  his  troops  in 
the  rear. 

It  seems  that  Admiral  Foote  had  suggested  to  General 
Grant  that  the  roads  were  so  had,  it  would  he  well  for  the 
land  force  to  start  an  hour  in  advance.  And  when  the 
General  expressed  his  confidence  in  the  ability  of  the 
troops  to  reach  the  field  in  time,  the  Admiral  replied, 
good-naturedly : “ I shall  take  the  fort  before  your  forces 
get  there ; ” words  that  proved  to  be  prophetic  of  the 
important  result. 

On  the  5th,  the  fleet  lay  before  the  fortress,  the  dark- 
mouthed ordnance  waiting  the  gunner’s  hand  to  pour  forth 
fire  and  hail  upon  it.  The  first  plan  was  to  invest  or  sur- 
round the  fort,  before  the  attack,  and  to  secure  the  garri- 
son. But  hearing  that  reenforcements  were  coming,  at 
noon,  it  was  decided  not  to  wait  for  the  troops,  but  that 
the  Commodore  should  try  the  fight  alone.  The  command 
flies  over-  the  fleet  to  open  the  battle.  It  is  answered  by  a 
huzza,  and  in  another  moment  the  thunder  of  cannon 
shakes  the  decks,  wrapped  in  smoke,  and  the  massive  iron 
hail  and  exploding  shells  falling  in  the  fort  give  the  garri- 
son notice  that  the  Yankee  “ tars  ” are  knocking  for 
admission  within  the  walls.  For  two  hours  Fort  Henry 
rained  back  her  storm  of  heavy  shot,  striking  the  flagship 
Cincinnati  thirty-one  times.  Suddenly  the  tempest  ceases, 
and  the  rebel  flag  comes  down  ; the  garrison  begin  to 


64 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


fly.  General  Tilghman,  finding  his  retreat  cut  off  by  the 
advancing  troops  of  General  Grant,  decides  upon  a sur- 
render. 

He  was  then  rowed  to  the  Admiral’s  ship,  and, 
standing  before  him,  inquires  what  terms  would  be  grant- 
ed. “ Unconditional  surrender  ! ” was  the  brave  and 
patriotic  reply. 

The  rebel  officer’s  answer  were  the  words  of  a gentle- 
man who  appreciated  high  qualities  of  character  in  a foe  : 

“Well,  sir,  if  I must  surrender,  it  gives  me  pleasure 
to  surrender  to  so  brave  an  officer.” 

“ You  do  perfectly  right  to  surrender,”  added  the 
heroic  Foote  ; “ but  I should  not  have  surrendered  to  you 
on  any  condition.” 

“ Why  so  ? I do  not  understand  you,”  answered 
General  Tilghman,  with  surprise. 

“ Because  I was  fully  determined  to  capture  the  fort, 
or  go  to  the  bottom,”  was  the  satisfactory  response  of  the 
gallant  Admiral. 

“ I thought  I had  you,  Commodore  ; but  you  were  too 
much  for  me.” 

“ How  could  you  fight  against  the  old  flag,  General  ? ” 

“ Well,  it  did  come  hard  at  first ; but  if  the  North  had 
let  us  alone,  there  would  have  been  no  trouble.  They 
would  not  abide  by  the  Constitution.” 

The  Commodore  assured  him  the  opposite  of  that  was 
the  truth,  and  that  the  South  was  responsible  for  the  blood 
shed  that  day. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


65 


Truly,  “ had  more  of  this  spirit  been  manifested  in  the 
early  months  of  the  war,  the  conflict  would  not  have  been 
so  protracted.”  Thousands  of  lives  would  have  been 
spared,  and  the  bow  of  peace  would  now  span  the  heav- 
ens, had  half-hearted  warfare  and  unused  victories  been 
confined  to  those  “ early  months.” 

Soon  after,  General  Grant  arriving,  the  fruits  of  the 
conquest  were  handed  over  to  him.  The  rebel  account  of 
the  battle,  given  by  General  Tilghman  in  his  despatches, 
bears  fine  testimony  to  the  greatness  of  Grant’s  character, 
rising  above  the  mean  revenge  and  tyranny  of  baser 
minds  when  flushed  with  victory : 


Fout  Henft,  February  9, 1862. 
Colonel  W.  W.  Hackall,  A.  A. -General,  C.  S.  A.,  Bowling  Green : 

Sir  : Through  the  courtesy  of  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Grant, 
commanding  Federal  forces,  I am  permitted  to  communicate  with 
you  in  relation  to  the  result  of  the  action  between  the  fort  under  my 
command  at  this  place,  and  the  Federal  gunboats,  on  yesterday. 

At  eleven  o’clock  and  forty  minutes,  on  yesterday  morning,  the 
enemy  engaged  the  fort  with  seven  gunboats,  mounting  fifty-four 
guns.  I promptly  returned  their  fire,  wdth  the  eleven  guns  from 
Fort  Henry  bearing  on  the  river.  The  action  was  maintained  with 
great  bravery  by  the  force  under  my  command  until  ten  minutes 
past  two  r.  M.,  at  which  time  I had  but  four  guns  fit  for  service.  At 
five  minutes  before  two,  finding  it  impossible  to  maintain  the  fort, 
and  wishing  to  spare  the  lives  of  the  gallant  men  under  my  com 
mand,  and  on  consultation  with  my  officers,  I surrendered  the  fort. 
Our  casualties  are  small.  The  effect  of  our  shot  was  severely  felt  by 
the  enemy,  whose  superior  and  overwhelming  force  alone  gave  them 
the  advantage.  * * * 

5 


66 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


I communicate  this  result  with  deep  regret,  but  feel  that  I per- 
formed my  whole  duty  in  the  defence  of  my  post. 

I take  occasion  to  bear  testimony  to  the  gallantry  of  the  officers 
and  men  under  my  command.  They  maintained  their  position  with 
consummate  bravery,  as  long  as  there  was  any  hope  of  success.  I 
also  take  great  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  courtesies  and  consid- 
eration shown  by  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Grant  and  Commodore 
Foote,  and  the  officers  under  their  command. 

I have  the  honor  to  remain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Lloyd  Tilghman,  Brig. -Gen.  C.  S.  A. 

Another  interesting  fact  about  this  despatch  is,  the 
exhibition  of  Tilghman’s  character.  Deluded  with  the 
attractive  lie  of  secession,  he  speaks  of  duty  with  the 
earnestness  of  an  honest  man  in  a bad  cause,  and  also  dis- 
plays the  qualities  of  a gentleman.  Doubtless  there  are 
many  heroic,  Christian  officers  and  soldiers  in  the  Con- 
federate army,  just  as  there  were  among  the  British  troops 
when  they  attempted  to  force  on  us  oppressive  laws. 

The  prisoners  were  soon  disposed  of,  and  the  fort  gar- 
risoned by  Union  troops.  General  Grant  sent  to  his 
enthusiastic  battalions  an  order,  welcomed  with  a shout, 
to  march  the  next  morning  toward  Donelson.  The  occu- 
pation of  Fort  Henry  was  only  “ clearing  the  track  ” for 
that  powerful  defence.  General  Floyd,  Buchanan’s  Secre- 
tary of  War,  was  in  command  of  the  rebel  forces.  Gen- 
eral Buckner  commanded  the  men  about  the  fort,  while 
Generals  Pillow  and  Johnson  were  at  the  head  of  other 
divisions.  To  the  twenty  thousand  troops  were  added  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


67 


fugitives  from  Fort  Henry.  General  Grant’s  forces  num- 
bered about  fifteen  thousand.  The  enemy  had  the  great 
advantage  of  a thoroughly  fortified  position.  Again,  there 
was  some  miscalculation  in  regard  to  the  time  required  to 
march  along  the  winding  way,  over  sand  hills,  through 
ravines,  and  forests  ancient  and  dark,  lying  between  the 
forts.  The  first  day,  the  column  moved  four  miles  into 
the  woods,  and  there,  tentless,  lay  down  on  the  cold 
ground,  around  their  crackling  fires,  to  bivouac  for  the 
night. 

The  pickets  silently  watched  for  signs  of  a lurking 
enemy. 

General  Lewis  Wallace  was  left  at  Fort  Henry  to 
keep  the  prize.  Colonels  Oglesby,  Wallace,  McArthur, 
and  Morrison  bravely  led  brigades  of  Western  boys. 
Schwartz,  Taylor,  Dresser,  and  McAllister  had  with  this 
division  their  fine  batteries.  In  the  second  division, 
Colonel  Lanman  was  at  the  head  of  the  second  brigade, 
Colonel  Smith  the  third ; Major  Corender  had  a regiment 
of  Missouri  artillery.  But  there  was  a singular  body  of 
troops  deserving  special  notice — Colonel  Birges’  sharp- 
shooters. They  were  old  hunters  in  the  grand  woods,  and 
could  pick  a squirrel  from  a treetop  far  as  he  could  be 
seen.  A little  tight  cap  covered  their  heads  ; a knapsack 
of  buffalo  skin,  and  a powder  horn,  hung  upon  the  gray 
felt  uniform.  Each  had  a shrill  whistle.  They  came  and 
went,  like  unearthly  messengers  of  death,  through  the  dim 
forest,  delighted  with  the  wild  excitement  and  hardships 


68 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


of  their  weird  life.  The  cavalry  swept  the  country  to 
see  what  the  enemy  were  about. 

Such  was  Grant’s  cavalcade,  moving  forward  in  the 
light  of  the  next  morning,  February  12th. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  white  tents  of  the  enemy  on  the 
hills  in  the  intrenchments  came  in  sight.  After  surveying 
the  field  of  impending  battle,  again  the  soldiers  slept  on 
the  ground,  a chilly  wind  fanning  the  fires  of  their  camp. 
But  the  following  day  was  bright  and  mild.  While  yet 
the  rosy  beams  which  herald  the  sun  glowed  in  the  east, 
the  sudden  scream  of  a rebel  shell  was  heard  over  the 
heads  of  Colonel  Oglesby’s  brigade.  “Hurrah!  hurrah!” 
is  the  response.  Every  brave  fellow  is  at  his  gun,  or 
standing  ready  to  hear  the  order  to  answer  the  foe. 
There  stood  sombre  Donelson,  frowning  defiance  on  the 
advancing  host  of  the  Republic,  with  ffying  banners 
wheeling  around  the  citadel  of  treason  and  anarchy. 

Soon  McClernand’s  division  defile  away  to  the  west 
and  south  of  the  fortifications,  and  Smith’s  to  the  north 
and  west.  Could  you  have  looked  from  the  battlements 
of  Donelson,  you  would  have  beheld  the  Union  army 
forming  a great  crescent,  with  its  tips  nearly  to  the  river’s 
bank  above  and  below  the  fort ; thus  holding  the  massive 
defence  in  the  curve.  The  centre  of  the  curve  was  not 
complete.  The  transports  on  the  waters  were  to  furnish 
the  troops  for  this  important  point.  The  boats  were  not 
“ on  time.”  But  the  hostile  armies  were  too  near  not  to 
fight.  Sanguinary  skirmishing,  and  occasionally  a deadly 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


69 


contest  for  some  position  outside  of  the  ramparts,  became 
the  order  of  the  day — the  prelude  of  the  awful  tragedy  at 
hand. 

Among  the  rifle  pits  and  earthworks  west  of  the  town, 
was  a redoubt,  or  walled  defence,  protecting  rebel  bat- 
teries. General  McClernand  decided  to  take  it.  The 
men  from  the  prairies,  whose  field  of  action  had  been  the 
furrowed  plain  and  golden  harvest  laud,  went  up  without 
wavering  to  the  volcanic  centre.  They  reached  the  im- 
passable abatis.  Taylor’s  splendid  battery  dashed  forward 
to  the  rescue,  but  the  rifle  bullets  of  the  enemy  dropped 
his  gunners.  Colonel  Birges’  hunters  were  sent  for,  and 
soon  stole  in  ambush  near  the  lines  of  fire.  Away  sped  the 
balls.  Soon  the  rebel  guns  were  silenced.  A head,  ap- 
parently, rose  above  the  breastworks ; toward  it  whistled 
a bullet,  piercing  only  a hat.  A shout  of  laughter  from 
the  enemy  followed.  “ Why  don’t  you  come  out  of  your 
old  fort  ? ” shouted  a concealed  sharpshooter.  “ Why 
don’t  you  come  in  ? ” was  the  reply.  “ Oh,  you  are 
cowards  ! ” exclaimed  another  Union  soldier.  “ When 
are  you  going  to  take  the  fort  ? ” came  back. 

At  three  o’clock  p.  m.  on  the  14th,  Commodore  Foote 
brought  up  the  already  scarred  leviathans  of  naval  war- 
fare, and  opened  the  assault  upon  the  fort.  In  another 
moment,  fire,  smoke,  falling  shot  and  bursting  shells  cov- 
ered the  fleet,  and  the  lofty  walls  and  grounds  of  Fort 
Donelson.  It  was  a terrible  scene. 

While  Commodore  Foote’s  flagship,  the  St.  Louis, 


70 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


was  under  a tempest  of  the  massive  iron  hail,  he  said  to 
the  pilot,  kindly : “ Be  calm  and  firm.  Everything  de- 
pends upon  coolness  now.”  The  next  moment,  a sixty- 
four  pound  shot  came  hissing  along  the  decks ; a stunning 
sound — a crash — and  the  pilot  lay  a mangled  corpse  at  the 
Commodore’s  feet.  The  ball  had  crushed  its  way  through 
the  iron  plating,  and  a fragment  pierced  the  Admiral’s 
ankle.  Still,  his  courage  and  faith  made  him  quite  forgetful 
of  the  painful  injury.  Through  the  steering  apparatus  of 
this  vessel  and  the  Louisville,  other  heavy  balls  have  been 
hurled,  leaving  them  both  at  the  mercy  of  the  current ; 
and  they  were  compelled  to  drift  from  the  scene  of  action. 
In  one  hour  and  a quarter  it  was  all  over,  and  Fort  Donel- 
son  was  wild  with  the  hurrah  of  fancied  victory. 

It  was  now  General  Grant’s  turn  to  try  on  the  land 
side,  and  see  what  he  could  do.  He  determined  to  invest 
the  fort,  watch  and  wait,  till  the  disabled  gunboats  were 
ready  to  join  in  the  onset  again.  But  the  rebels,  after  a 
council  of  war  by  the  generals,  unexpectedly  decided  his 
plan  of  operations.  On  the  15th,  early  in  the  morning,  a 
large  body  of  their  troops  was  hurled  suddenly  upon  the 
extreme  right  of  General  Grant’s  encircling  army.  It 
seemed  an  auspicious  moment  for  the  cause  of  treason. 
The  prince  of  Government  thieves,  Floyd,  was  as  sure  of 
the  Union  army  as  he  was  of  the  public  property,  when  in 
the  Cabinet  of  a President  who  was  willing  to  be  the  tool 
of  such  traitors.  Generals  Pillow  and  Johnson  were  to 
hurl  half  of  the  rebel  army  upon  McClernard : General 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


71 


Buckner  was  to  dash  on  General  Wallace  from  another 
point,  and  beat  his  forces  back  on  McClernand,  and  so 
throw  the  whole  into  hopeless  confusion. 

The  light  of  Saturday,  February  15th,  lay  on  the 
battlements  of  the  fortress,  and  on  the  myriad  tents  within 
and  around  it.  In  the  loyal  North,  but  few  were  astir  in 
the  wintry  air.  The  partially  disciplined  but  brave  volun- 
teers were  startled  from  their  sleep  on  the  cold  ground, 
to  meet  the  mighty  tide  of  battle.  With  flying  banners, 
and  shouts,  the  hostile  columns  sweep  down  upon  the 
extreme  right  of  General  Grant’s  encircling  battalions. 

The  Union  ranks  stand  up  bravely ; but  there  is  a 
limit  to  the  most  heroic  resistance,  and  they  fall  back 
before  the  overwhelming  force,  ieaving  two  batteries  of 
artillery  in  the  enemy’s  hands.  Reenforcements  hasten 
to  the  relief  of  our  men,  and  then  the  two  lines  close 
in  deadly  combat ; both  seem  resolved  to  conquer,  or  be 
annihilated.  The  rebels  yield,  losing  their  batteries,  ex- 
cepting three  of  the  guns ; but,  reenforced,  they  rush 
back  with  fiend-like  yells,  flanking  our  troops.  The  day 
looks  dark  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

The  worst  of  all  is,  that  at  this  moment  other  Union 
regiments  brought  into  the  field  mistake  their  brethren 
in  arms  for  the  enemy,  and  open  fire.  Great  confusion, 
of  course,  follows.  Frightened  troops  fly  to  the  rear, 
tossing  their  guns  away  as  they  go.  Among  these,  see 
that  officer,  Gilpin-like,  plunging  down  the  road,  looking 
pale  and  wild,  crying  : “We  are  cut  to  pieces  ! The  day 
is  lost ! ” 


72 


LIFE  OF  GENEEAL  GEANT. 


“ Shut  up  jour  head,  you  scoundrel ! ” is  the  blunt 
and  stern  reply  of  General  Wallace. 

General  Pillow  telegraphed  to  Nashville  : “ On  the 
honor  of  a soldier,  the  day  is  ours  ! ” 

Whoever  thought  this  ip  the  ranks  of  the  rebels,  or 
feared  it  in  our  own,  General  Grant  did  not.  If  it  were 
true  that  the  battle  was  lost,  he  felt,  as  did  another  chief- 
tain, that  “ there  was  time  to  fight  another.” 

Generals  Buckner  and  Pillow  united  their  brigades, 
and  again  moved  upon  our  ranks,  fancying  they  had  not 
much  more  fighting  to  do  to  complete  the  victory.  The 
dead  and  wounded  on  the  conquered  field  have  been 
robbed.  Flushed  with  success  and  spoils,  they  opened  the 
terrific  storm  of  battle  hail  again.  Over  the  bloody  brook, 
the  piled  bodies,  and  the  mangled  living,  rushed  the  angry 
masses  of  armed  men.  The  rebel  forces  struck  at  length 
the  First  Nebraska,  whose  stalwart  hunters  neither  feared 
nor  wasted  fire,  and  the  “ proud  waves  were  stayed.” 
They  stood  wild  and  raging  a moment ; and,  failing  where 
the  hunters  were  most  effective  in  their  aim,  then  trem- 
bling, rolled  back. 

It  was  noon.  The  chagrined  Pillow  began  to  realize 
the  sentiment  of  Dr.  Young: 

“ Our  morning’s  glory  is  our  evening’s  sigh.” 

Lying  before  the  breastworks,  in  ambush,  were  Birges’ 
sharpshooters.  A splendid  rebel  marksman,  whose  rifle 
had  slain  a number  of  our  officers,  and  one  of  these  hunt- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


73 


ers,  had  a singular,  almost  a comical  duel.  The  former, 
raising  his  hat  above  the  ramparts,  deceived  the  sharp- 
shooter, sending  a loud  laugh  to  the  equally  shrewd  an- 
tagonist. Then  a return  shot  passed  over  him.  Turning 
on  his  back,  he  loaded  his  gun,  and  lay  perfectly  still. 
After  waiting  awhile,  the  rebel  thought  his  ball  had  done 
the  work.  Up  went  his  head,  cap  and  all,  that  he  might 
enjoy  the  view  of  his  dead  enemy.  “ Crack  ! ” went  the 
well-aimed  rifle,  and  backward  into  the  trenches  fell  the 
just  now  laughing  rebel. 

Now  look  into  that  tent  at  headquarters,  where  our 
hero  of  the  “ timber-hauling  ” memory  sits,  without  any 
shadow  of  despondency  on  his  face ; whose  lips,  well  sur- 
rounded by  short,  sandy  hair,  are  compressed  with  his 
native  inflexibility  of  purpose.  One  after  another  the 
subordinate  officers  bring  in  reports  from  the  commanders. 
His  lighted  eye  glances  over  the  pages  scarcely  dry,  and 
with  triumph  he  exclaims  to  a member  of  his  staff : “We 
have  them  now  just  where  we  want  them.”  His  plan  is 
formed.  The  rifle  pits  on  the  northwest  angle  of  the  fort 
must  be  carried,  and  make  an  approach  for  the  batteries  to 
shell  it.  General  Smith’s  division,  stationed  there,  had 
been  in  reserve,  and  could  start  fresh  on  the  daring  and 
awful  venture.  General  Wallace  is  ordered  to  drive  the 
rebels,  before  whom  he  had  retired,  back,  and  assault  the 
works  there. 

Colonel  M.  L.  Smith  led  the  brigade.  Eight  there  on 
the  bloody  field,  with  a desperate  attack  before  them,  and 


74 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


certain  death  to  many,  the  Eighth  and  Eleventh  Missouri 
fairly  quarreled  for  the  honor  of  taking  the  front,  the  most 
exposed  position  in  the  assault.  What  patriotic  and  mar- 
tial enthusiasm  ! And  that  is  the  way  the  Western 
“ boys  ” go  into  any  great  enterprise.  Half-hearted  ways 
of  doing,  they  know  nothing  about.  To  the  announce- 
ment of  the  work  before  them,  the  reply  was,  “ Hurrah  ! 
hurrah  ! ” and  then  “ Forward  ! ” to  the  storming  of  the 
ramparts.  But  away  in  the  mellow  glory  of  the  setting 
sun,  in  solid  masses,  General  Smith’s  division  advances 
over  the  meadow,  toward  the  bristling  rows  of  rifle  pits. 
Along  the  dauntless  lines  of  “ citizen  soldiery,”  like  an 
incarnation  of  the  daring  and  gallantry  of  the  high  occa- 
sion, rode  the  veteran,  his  long  locks  whitening  to  the 
“ almond  blossom,”  streaming  back  upon  the  electric  air 
of  that  eventful  evening.  Another  moment,  the  crater  of 
destruction  opens.  Heavy  shot  and  bursting  shell  make 
clean  avenues  through  the  unflinching  columns.  They 
close  again  for  another  harvest  of  death.  Up  and  down 
that  front,  lifting  high  his  cap,  amid  the  hissing  missiles 
that  rend  the  air,  gallops  General  Smith.  “ Steady ! 
steady!”  and  it  is  steady — steady  advance  and  steady 
slaughter.  Wallace  is  doing  his  work  on  the  right,  and 
Cook  upon  the  left.  Against  fallen  trees,  into  the  thun- 
der-cloud ablaze,  and  raining  bolts,  the  unshrinking  bat- 
talions dash,  as  though  they  were  leaping  into  the  spray 
of  a summer  sea. 

Watch  a moment,  my  young  friend,  that  apparent 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


75 


chaos  of  confusion,  wrapped  in  flame  and  smoke.  “ Hur- 
rah ! hurrah  ! ” Look  I the  Stars  and  Stripes  are 
waving  in  the  farewell  smile  of  the  terrible  yet  glorious 
day.  The  blackened  remnant  of  the  assaulting  columns 
stand  on  the  heights ; while  all  along  the  Union  lines 
ring  the  glad  shouts  of  restored  confidence  and  of  exulta- 
tion. 

The  sun  goes  down  on  a gory  scene,  but  with  the 
clear  promise  of  victory  upon  his  return  to  light  the  fort- 
ress piled  within  and  around  with  bodies  of  the  slain. 

The  morning  dawned ; and  when  the  brave  men 
looked  toward  the  unconquered  battlements,  behold,  a flag 
of  truce  was  flying  there  ! The  foe  has  decided  to  nego- 
tiate for  a surrender. 

"We  must  let  “ Carleton,”  who  was  there,  tell,  from  the 
lips  of  a captured  officer,  what  transpired  in  the  fort  during 
that  night  of  repose  to  our  wearied  warriors  : 

“I  cannot  hold  my  position  a half  hour.  The  Yan- 
kees can  turn  my  flank  or  advance  directly  upon  the 
breastworks,”  said  General  Buckner. 

“ If  you  had  advanced  at  the  time  agreed  upon,  and 
made  a more  vigorous  attack,  we  should  have  routed  the 
enemy,”  said  General  Floyd. 

“ I advanced  as  soon  as  I could,  and  my  troops  fought 
as  bravely  as  others,”  was  the  response  from  General 
Buckner,  a middle-aged,  medium-sized  man.  His  hair  is 
iron  gray.  He  has  thin  whiskers  and  a moustache,  and 
wears  a gray  kersey  overcoat  with  a great  cape,  and  gold 


76 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


lace  on  the  sleeves,  and  a black  hat  with  a nodding  black 
plume. 

“Well,  here  we  are,  and  it  is  useless  to  renew  the 
attack  with  any  hope  of  success.  The  men  are  exhaust- 
ed,” said  General  Floyd,  a stout,  heavy  man,  with  thick 
lips,  a large  nose,  evil  eyes,  and  coarse  features. 

“ We  can  cut  our  way  out,”  said  Major  Brown,  com- 
manding the  Twentieth  Mississippi,  a tall,  black-haired, 
impetuous,  fiery  man. 

“ Some  of  us  might  escape  in  that  way,  but  the 
attempt  would  be  attended  with  great  slaughter,”  re- 
sponded General  Floyd. 

“ My  troops  are  so  worn  out  and  cut  to  pieces  and  de- 
moralized, that  I can’t  make  another  fight,”  said  Buckner. 

“ My  troops  will  fight  till  they  die  I ” answered  Major 
Brown,  setting  his  teeth  together. 

“ It  will  cost  the  command  three  quarters  of  its  pres- 
ent number  to  cut  its  way  through ; and  it  is  wrong  to 
sacrifice  three  quarters  of  a command  to  save  the  other 
quarter,”  Buckner  continued. 

“ No  officer  has  a right  to  cause  such  a sacrifice,”  said 
Major  Gilmer,  of  General  Pillow’s  staff. 

“ But  we  can  hold  out  another  day,  and  by  that  time 
we  can  get  steamboats  here  to  take  us  across  the  river,” 
said  General  Pillow. 

“No,  I can’t  hold  my  position  a half  hour;  and  the 
Yankees  will  renew  the  attack  at  daybreak,”  Buckner 
replied. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


77 


“ Then  we  have  got  to  surrender,  for  aught  I see,” 
said  an  officer. 

“ I won’t  surrender  the  command,  neither  will  I be 
taken  prisoner,”  said  Floyd.  He  doubtless  remembered 
how  he  had  stolen  public  property  while  in  office  under 
Buchanan,  and  would  rather  die  than  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  those  whom  he  knew  would  be  likely  to  bring  him  to 
an  account  for  his  villany. 

“ I don’t  intend  to  be  taken  prisoner,”  said  Pillow. 

“ What  will  you  do,  gentlemen  ? ” Buckner  asked. 

“ I mean  to  escape,  and  take  my  Virginia  brigade 
with  me,  if  I can.  I shall  turn  over  the  command  to 
General  Pillow.  I have  a right  to  escape  if  I can,  but  I 
haven’t  any  right  to  order  the  entire  army  to  make  a 
hopeless  fight,”  said  Floyd. 

“ If  you  surrender  it  to  me,  I shall  turn  it  over  to 
General  Buckner,”  said  General  Pillow,  who  was  also  dis- 
posed to  shirk  responsibility  and  desert  the  men  whom  he 
had  induced  to  vote  to  secede  from  the  Union  and  take 
up  arms  against  their  country. 

“ If  the  command  comes  into  my  hands,  I shall  deem 
it  my  duty  to  surrender  it.  I shall  not  call  upon  the 
troops  to  make  a useless  sacrifice  of  life,  and  I will  not 
desert  the  men  who  have  fought  so  nobly,”  Buckner 
replied,  with  a bitterness  which  made  Floyd  and  Pillow 
wince. 

It  was  past  midnight.  The  council  broke  up.  The 
brigade  and  regimental  officers  were  astonished  at  the 


1 8 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


result.  Some  of  them  broke  out  into  horrid  cursing  and 
swearing  at  Floyd  and  Pillow. 

“ It'is  mean  1 ” “ It  is  cowardly  ! ” “ Floyd  always 

was  a rascal.” 

“We  are  betrayed!”  “There  is  treachery  !”  said  they. 

“ It  is  a mean  trick  for  an  officer  to  desert  his  men. 
If  my  troops  are  to  be  surrendered,  I shall  stick  by  them,” 
said  Major  Brown. 

“ I denounce  Pillow  as  a coward  ; and  if  I ever  meet 
him,  I’ll  shoot  him  as  quick  as  I would  a dog,”  said  Major 
McLain,  red  with  rage. 

Floyd  gave  out  that  he  was  going  to  join  Colonel 
Forrest,  who  commanded  the  cavalry,  and  thus  cut  his 
way  out ; but  there  were  two  or  three  small  steamboats 
at  the  Dover  landing.  He  and  General  Pillow  jumped  on 
board  one  of  them,  and  then  secretly  marched  a portion 
of  the  Virginia  brigade  on  board.  Other  soldiers  saw 
what  was  going  on — that  they  were  being  deserted. 
They  became  frantic  with  terror  and  rage.  They  rushed 
on  board,  crowding  every  part  of  the  boat. 

“ Cut  loose  ! ” shouted  Floyd  to  the  captain. 

The  boats  swung  into  the  stream  and  moved  up  the 
river,  leaving  thousands  of  infuriated  soldiers  on  the  land- 
ing. So,  the  man  who  had  stolen  the  public  property, 
and  who  did  all  he  could  to  bring  on  the  war,  who  in- 
duced thousands  of  poor,  ignorant  men  to  take  up  arms, 
deserted  his  post,  stole  away  in  the  darkness,  and  left 
them  to  their  fate. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


79 


It  is  not  strange  that  a messenger  appeared,  bringing 
this  message  : 


Headquarters,  Fort  Donelson,  February  16,  1862. 
Sir  : In  consideration  of  all  the  circumstances  governing  the 
present  situation  of  affairs  at  this  station,  I propose  to  the  command- 
ing officer  of  the  Federal  forces  the  appointment  of  commissioners 
to  agree  upon  terms  of  capitulation  of  the  forces  and  fort  under  my 
command,  and,  in  that  view,  suggest  an  armistice  till  twelve  o’clock 
to-day. 

I am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  B.  Buckner,  Brig.-Gen.  C.  S.  A. 

To  Brigadier-General  Grant,  commanding  United  States  forces  near  Fort 
Donelson. 


Had  the  rebel  General  known  his  conqueror,  he  would 
never  have  sent  such  a line.  Grant  did  not  want  many 
minutes  to  consider  his  reply.  In  place  of  any  such  pro- 
posal, the  bearer’s  hand  had  the  subjoined  brief  and  com- 
prehensive note  : 

Headquarters,  Army  in  the  Field,  ; 

Camp  near  Donelson,  Feb.  16,  1862.  5 

To  General  S,  B.  Buckner,  Confederate  Army : 

Tours  of  this  date,  proposing  an  armistice,  and  appointment  of 
commissioners  to  settle  terms  of  capitulation,  is  just  received.  No 
terms  other  than  unconditional  and  immediate  surrender  can  he 
accepted.  I propose  to  move  immediately  upon  your  works. 

I am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  Grant,  Brig.-Gen.  U.  S.  A.  Commanding. 


80 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Buckner  knew,  what  Grant  did  not,  that  Pillow  and 
Floyd  had  fled  the  night  before,  leaving  him  alone.  The 
proud,  helpless,  and  chagrined  Buckner  was  obliged  to 
make  the  best  of  a very  unpleasant  affair.  So  he  wrote 
this  answer  : 

Headquarters,  Dover,  Tennessee,  Feb.  16,  1862. 

To  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Grant,  U.  S.  A.  : 

Sir  : The  distribution  of  the  forces  under  my  command,  incident 
to  an  unexpected  change  of  commanders,  and  the  overwhelming 
force  under  your  command,  compel  me,  notwithstanding  the  brilliant 
success  of  the  Confederate  arms  yesterday,  to  accept  the  ungenerous 
and  unchivalrous  terms  which  you  propose. 

I am,  sir,  your  very  obedient  servant, 

S.  B.  Buckner,  Brig.-Gen.  C.  S.  A. 

And  thus  fell  into  the  hands  of  General  Grant  and  his 
army,  the  whole  of  the  forces  that  garrisoned  the  works 
of  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson,  with  the  exception  of  one 
small  brigade  of  rebel  troops,  which  escaped  during  the 
night  with  Generals  Floyd  and  Pillow. 

No  pen  can  describe  the  delirium  of  joy,  when  the 
shattered  columns  of  freedom  marched  with  music  and 
banners  into  the  abandoned  fortress.  Men  torn  with  frag- 
ments of  iron  forgot  their  pain,  and  hurrahed  for  the  flag 
over  them. 

The  rebel  loss  in  the  surrender  of  Fort  Henry,  was  the 
commander,  General  Tilghman,  his  staff,  and  about  sixty 
men,  the  rest  of  the  garrison  having  moved  to  support  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


81 


troops  at  Fort  Donelson.  At  Fort  Donelson,  the  rebels 
lost  General  Buckner,  over  thirteen  thousand  prisoners, 
three  thousand  horses,  forty-eight  field  pieces,  seventeen 
heavy  guns,  twenty  thousand  stand  of  arms,  and  a large 
quantity  of  commissary  stores.  The  rebels  killed  in  the 
last  engagement  were  two  hundred  and  thirty-one,  and 
wounded,  one  thousand  and  seven,  some  of  whom  were 
prisoners.  The  Union  loss  was  four  hundred  and  forty-six 
killed,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-five  wound- 
ed, and  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.  The  Union 
troops  having  to  fight  in  an  open  field,  against  the  works 
of  the  rebels,  accounts  for  the  disparity  of  numbers  in 
killed  and  wounded. 

Two  regiments  of  rebel  Tennesseeans,  who  had  been 
ordered  to  reenforce  the  garrison  at  Fort  Donelson, 
marched  into  that  work  on  the  day  after  the  capitulation, 
being  unaware  of  its  capture.  They  went  along,  with 
their  colors  flying  and  their  bands  plajdng,  and  were 
allowed  to  enter  the  camp  without  any  warning  as  to  the 
character  and  nationality  of  those  who  held  it  in  posses- 
sion. The  whole  force  (one  thousand  four  hundred  and 
seventy-five  men  and  officers)  were  at  once  captured. 

The  result  of  this  campaign  was  far  more  valuable 
than  would  at  the  first  sight  appear.  The  rebel  line,  at 
this  particular  part  of  the  country,  may  be  said  to  have 
extended  from  Columbus  to  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  a distance 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  with  the  extreme  points 
of  each  wing  resting  on  those  two  places,  which  had  been 
6 


■4 


■V 


82 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


strongly  fortified.  The  reduction  of  Forts  Henry  and 
Donelson,  and  the  opening  of  the  rivers  at  this  point, 
broke  the  centre  or  backbone  of  this  whole  line,  and,  as  a 
natural  consequence,  the  wings  had  to  fall.  In  a few  days 
after,  both  Bowling  Green  and  Columbus  were  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  Union  troops,  the  rebels  having  evacuated 
those  defences. 

The  victory  was  telegraphed  to  Washington  in  the 
following  words : 

Cairo,  February  17, 1862. 

To  Major-General  McClellan  : 

The  Union  flag  floats  over  Fort  Donelson.  The  Carondelet, 
Captain  Walke,  brings  the  glorious  intelligence. 

The  fort  surrendered  at  nine  o’clock  yesterday  (Sunday)  morning. 
General  Buckner  and  about  fifteen  thousand  prisoners,  and  a large 
amount  of  materiel  of  war,  are  the  trophies  of  the  victory.  Loss 
heavy  on  both  sides. 

Floyd,  the  thief,  stole  away  during  the  night  previous,  with  five 
thousand  men,  and  is  denounced  by  the  rebels  as  a traitor.  I am 
happy  to  inform  you  that  Flag-Officer  Foote,  though  suffering  with 
his  foot,  with  the  noble  characteristic  of  our  navy,  notwithstanding 
his  disability,  will  take  up  immediately  two  gunboats,  and,  with  the 
eight  mortar  boats  which  he  will  overtake,  will  make  an  immediate 
attack  on  Clarksville,  if  the  state  of  the  weather  will  permit.  We 
are  now  firing  a national  salute  from  Fort  Cairo,  General  Grant’s  late 
post,  in  honor  of  the  glorious  achievement. 

[Signed]  Geo.  W.  Cullum, 

Brig.-Gon.  Vole,  and  U.  S.  A.  and  Chief  of  Staff  and  Engineers. 

To  the  dispatch  was  added  these  patriotic  words  : 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


83 


“ The  United  States  flag  now  wares  over  Tennessee 
It  shall  never  be  removed.” 

The  victory  was  attended  with  displays  of  valor  un- 
rivalled in  the  war  fields  of  the  world.  Oh,  how  those 
volunteers  of  the  "West  breasted  the  wasting  fire,  and 
went  down  in  ranks,  hailing,  with  dying  shout  and  glance, 
the  starry  flag  ! In  the  Ninth  Illinois  regiment,  a soldier 
received  a shot  through  his  arm.  The  wound  was  dressed, 
and  again  he  hastened  to  his  place  in  the  ranks.  Soon 
after,  a ball  entered  his  thigh,  and  he  fell.  His  brave 
associates  offered  him  help.  “ No,”  he  replied  ; “ I think 
I can  get  along  alone.”  Away  he  staggered,  leaning  on 
his  gun,  through  the  iron  and  leaden  hail,  found  a surgeon, 
who  did  Ms  work,  and  gave  the  brave  refreshment.  He 
rose,  and  saying,  “ I feel  pretty  well ; I must  go  into  the 
fight  again,”  he  joined  his  comrades.  He  stooped  to  point 
his  gun ; a bullet  pierced  his  neck,  and  went  downward 
into  his  body.  The  next  moment,  balls  riddled  his  head, 
and  the  mangled  hero  fell  in  death.  Such  were  the  war- 
riors, who,  thinking  not  of  fame  or  life,  lay  down  under 
the  dear  old  flag  waving  on  the  battered  walls  of  Donel- 
son. 

The  magnificent  conquest  sent  a thrill  of  joy 'over  the 
nation.  Thousands  of  cannon  in  the  peaceful  towns  of 
the  North  thimdered  forth  the  rejoicing,  and  banners 
floated  over  almost  every  loyal  house. 

Our  modest  victor,  in  the  successful  performance  of  a 
great  duty  to  the  country  he  loved  better  than  life,  took 


84 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


another  stride  in  the  rapid  march  of  fame.  He  was  made 
Major-General  of  Volunteers,  dating  from  the  day  of  the 
fort’s  surrender,  February  16,  1862. 

No  one  would  suspect,  from  the  manner  of  General 
Grant,  amid  these  exciting  events  and  clustering  honors, 
the  echoing  salutes  and  hurrahs  of  the  soldiery  and  the 
people,  that  lie  was  the  hero  and  object  of  them  all. 
Unostentatious,  “ calm  as  a clock,”  he  kept  time  to  the 
“ drum-beat  of  duty,”  unheeding  the  storm  of  conflict,  or 
the  sunshine  of  triumph  around  him. 

Let  us  take  a glimpse  of  scenes  apart  from  the  hero 
and  the  strife.  A friend,  who  went  to  the  fort  after  the 
victory,  in  behalf  of  the  Christian  Commission — one  of 
the  noblest  enterprises  called  out  by  the  war,  blessing  the 
embattled  hosts  in  its  care  for  them  physically  and  spirit- 
ually— related  two  striking  incidents.  He  visited  a hos- 
pital steamer,  and  found,  not  far  apart,  fatally  wounded,  a 
religious  and  a profane  young  man.  The  former  was 
ready  to  die  under  the  old  flag,  with  a banner  seen  only 
by  faith,  bearing  the  “ Star  of  Bethlehem,”  and  the 
“ stripes  by  which  we  are  healed  ” flying  over  him.  The 
other  said  : “ I have  never  prayed.  And  do  you  think, 
after  such  a life,  I will  now  ask  for  mercy  ? Never  ! I 
will  face  the  music.”  And  soon  he  also  died. 

Going  to  the  plains  of  death,  he  saw  a soldier  half 
buried  in  the  snowy  mud,  lying  on  his  back,  with  a Testa- 
ment, which  had  fallen  from  the  side  pocket  of  his  coat, 
on  the  breast.  Farther  on,  he  came  against  a corpse, 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


85 


from  tlie  pocket  of  whose  coat  a pack  of  cards  had 
dropped,  and  were  scattered  over  it,  and  on  the  ground. 
"What  instructive  contrasts  along  the  track  of  unpitying 
war  I 

In  the  Atlantic  Monthly  appeared  the  following  fine 
little  poem,  commemorative  of  the  costly  yet  magnificent 
victory  : 

“ 0 gales,  that  dash  the  Atlantic’s  swell 
Along  our  rocky  shores, 

Whose  thunders  diapason  well 
New  England’s  glad  hurrahs  ; 

“ Bear  to  the  prairies  of  the  West 
The  echoes  of  our  joy, 

The  prayer  that  springs  in  every  breast — 

‘ God  bless  thee,  Illinois  ! ’ 

“ Oh,  awful  hours,  when  grape  and  shell 
Tore  through  the  unflinching  line  ! 

‘ Stand  firm  ! Remove  the  men  who  fell ! 

Close  up,  and  wait  the  sign  ! ’ 

“ It  came  at  last : ‘ Now,  lads,  the  steel ! ’ 

The  rushing  hosts  deploy  ; 

‘ Charge,  boys  ! ’ The  broken  traitors  reel ; 

Hurrah  for  Illinois  ! 

“ In  vain  thy  rampart,  Donelson, 

The  living  torrent  bars  ; 

It  leaps  the  wall — the  fort  is  won — 

Up  go  the  Stripes  and  Stars. 


86 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ Thy  proudest  mother’s  eyelids  fill, 

As  dares  her  gallant  boy, 

And  Plymouth  Rock  and  Bunker  Hill 
Yearn  to  thee,  Illinois.” 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  more  the  Hero  does,  the  more  is  he  expected  to  do — His  Kingdom 
Enlarged— Anecdote  about  his  Habits— Major-General  Grant’s  Hirst 
Work— Congratulations— Martial  Movements— No  Plundering  allowed 
— Up  the  River— Sword  presented— Scours  the  Country— Moves  toward 
Corinth — Preparations  for  Battle. 


)HE  fighting  yet  prudent  chief  had  brought  under 
the  Union  flag  so  much  territory  from  the  mad 
rule  of  treason,  the  Government  presumed  he 
could  go  on  “ conquering  and  to  conquer.” 
And,  accordingly,  the  field  was  laid  out  for 
vaster  and  more  difficult  operations.  February  14th, 
General  Halleck,  who  was  at  the  head  of  military  affairs, 
formed  for  Grant  the  new  district  of  West  Tennessee. 
Refer  to  the  map  once  more,  and  you  will  observe  its 
extent.  It  was  bounded  on  the  south  by  Tennessee  River 
and  State  line  of  Mississippi,  and  on  the  northwest  by 
Mississippi  River,  far  north  as  Cairo.  He  could  select  his 
own  headquarters.  Over  this  large  region  he  was  military 
king.  That  is,  he  had  the  control  of  affairs  in  his  own 
hands.  And  you  must  not  forget,  that  no  monarchy  is 


88 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


more  absolute  than  the  power  of  martial  command.  The 
genius  of  its  unquestioned  sway  is  well  expressed  by  the 
Roman  centurion’s  words  to  Christ,  nearly  two  thousand 
years  ago  : “ For  I am  a man  under  authority,  having 
soldiers  under  me ; and  I say  to  this  man,  Go,  and  he 
goeth ; to  another,  Come,  and  he  cometh ; and  to  my  ser- 
vant, Do  this,  and  he  doeth  it.”  This  power  will  be 
abused  by  bad  men.  A poor  sick  soldier  carried  the 
certificate  of  his  inability  to  serve,  signed  by  the  surgeons 
and  all  inferior  officers,  to  the  commander ; who,  half  in- 
toxicated, refused  to  read  them,  and  ordered  the  man  on 
duty.  He  had  to  obey ; but,  in  the  effort  to  do  so,  stag- 
gered a moment,  and  fell  dead.  Such  facts  are  too  many, 
and  sad  enough.  Power  is  a dangerous  trust. 

It  has  proved  to  be  safe  in  the  rapidly-growing  com- 
mand of  General  Grant.  Many  of  the  officers  of  the 
regular  army,  pleading,  as  an  apology,  the  change  of  cli- 
mate and  social  scenes  away  from  domestic  life,  have 
freely  used  stimulants.  This  is  a deplorable  habit,  and 
never  a protection  against  exposure. 

Provost-General  M.  R.  Patrick,  of  the  Potomac  army, 
a Christian  patriot  and  hero,  who  had  been  in  Mexico  with 
“ Bob  Lee,”  as  he  called  him  familiarly,  and  went  through 
the  Seminole  war,  assured  me  that  only  those  who,  with 
himself,  abstained  entirely  from  strong  drink,  escaped 
Southern  diseases,  without  fleeing,  in  hot  weather,  to  the 
North. 

Some  amusing  incidents  have  occurred  in  connection 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


89 


with  the  stories  about  General  Grant ; who  is  a thoroughly 
correct,  and,  many  Christian  friends  believe,  a religious 
man.  About  this  time,  several  gentlemen,  acting  as  a 
delegation,  called  on  General  Halleck,  and  desired  his 
removal,  when  the  following  scene  occurred  : 

“ You  see,  General,”  said  the  spokesman,  “ we  have  a 
number  of  Illinois  volunteers  under  General  Grant,  and  it 
is  not  safe  that  their  lives  should  be  intrusted  to  the  care 
of  a man  who  so  constantly  indulges  in  intoxicating 
liquors.  Who  knows  what  blunders  he  may  commit ! ” 

“Well,  gentlemen,”  said  General  Halleck,  “I  am 
satisfied  with  General  Grant,  and  I have  no  doubt  you 
also  soon  will  be.” 

While  the  deputation  were  staying  at  the  hotel,  the 
news  arrived  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  and  thirteen 
thousand  prisoners.  General  Halleck  posted  the  intelli- 
gence himself  on  the  hotel  bulletin ; and,  as  he  did  so,  he 
remarked,  loud  enough  for  all  to  hear : 

“ If  General  Grant  is  such  a drunkard  as  he  is  re- 
ported to  be,  and  can  win  such  victories  as  these,  I think 
it  is  my  duty  to  issue  an  order,  that  any  man  found  sober 
in  St.  Louis  to-night  shall  be  punished  with  fine  and  im- 
prisonment.” 

This  was  ironical  pleasantry,  designed  to  silence  the 
complaining  gentlemen,  who  were  evidently  not  as  much 
afraid  of  intemperance,  as  they  were  of  General  Grant. 

“ Do  you  know  what  the  personal  habits  of  General 
Grant  are  ? ” was  the  interrogation  addressed  to  one  who 
had  fought  long  under  him.  He  answered  : 


90 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ I know  that  lie  is  one  of  the  most  moderate  of  men 
in  his  desires.  His  purity  is  equal  to  his  modesty.  His 
personal  character,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  is  without  a 
blot.  He  is  tenderly  devoted  to  his  wife  and  family.” 

The  first  official  act  in  the  wider  field  of  his  wise 
administration,  was  a congratulatory  order.  He  had  not 
been  in  haste,  as  an  inferior,  inflated  mind  would  have 
been ; but  when  the  calm  of  a new  order  of  things  came, 
he  addressed  his  brave  troops  : 


Headquarters,  District  of  West  Tennessee,  i 
Fort  Donelson,  February  17, 1S62.  > 

The  General  commanding,  takes  great  pleasure  in  congratulating 
the  troops  of  this  command  for  the  triumph  over  rebellion  gained  by 
their  valor,  on  the  13th,  14th,  and  15th  instant. 

For  four  successive  nights,  without  shelter,  during  the  most  in- 
clement weather  known  in  this  latitude,  they  faced  an  enemy  in  large 
force,  in  a position  chosen  by  himself.  Though  strongly  fortified  by 
nature,  all  the  additional  safeguards  suggested  by  science  were  added. 
Without  a murmur  this  was  borne,  prepared  at  all  times  to  receive  an 
attack,  and,  with  continuous  skirmishing  by  day,  resulting  ultimately 
in  forcing  the  enemy  to  surrender  without  condition. 

The  victory  achieved  is  not  only  great  in  the  effect  it  will  have  in 
breaking  down  rebellion,  but  has  secured  the  greatest  number  of 
prisoners  of  war  ever  taken  in  any  battle  on  this  continent. 

Fort  Donejson  will  hereafter  be  marked  in  capitals  on  the  map  of 
our  united  country,  and  the  men  who  fought  the  battle  will  live  in 
the  memory  of  a grateful  people. 

By  order, 


U.  S.  Grant,  Brig.-Gen.  Commanding. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


91 


The  day  before  this  order  was  issued,  February  16th, 
he  was  made  Major-General.  He  did  not  pause  to  enjoy 
victories,  or  simple  authority.  He  followed  up,  with  tire- 
less activity,  every  advantage  gained.  This  is  the  only 
royal  road  to  success  anywhere  in  life. 

Commodore  Foote’s  fleet  was  sent  toward  the  head- 
waters of  the  Cumberland,  and  a land  force  to  act  with 
it,  along  the  western  shore. 

Three  days  later,  Clarksville,  a depot  of  supplies  suffi- 
cient for  Grant’s  use  nearly  a month,  surrendered  without 
a shot ; resistance  was  so  utterly  hopeless.  He  ordered 
the  destruction  of  the  Tennessee  Iron  Works,  which  fur- 
nished iron  plates  for  rebel  ships ; and  the  torch  was 
applied  to  the  extensive  buildings,  making  one  of  the 
many  bonfires  that  blaze  along  the  track  of  war. 

War  is  only  waste , from  beginning  to  end.  The 
object  of  the  ruin  to  property,  is  to  weaken  the  strength 
of  the  foe.  With  all  the  attending  loss  and  horrors,  as 
the  world  is,  an  appeal  to  arms  is  sometimes  unavoidable, 
if  justice  and  truth  are  maintained. 

Leaving  a sufficient  force  there  to  hold  and  use  the  place, 
February  20th  the  gunboats  pushed  onward  toward  Nash- 
ville, anticipating  its  conquest  by  the  Union  army.  Mar- 
tial law  was  declared ; in  other  words,  army  rule , till  the 
number  of  loyal  citizens  was  large  enough  to  maintain 
civil  law  in  West  Tennessee. 

Major-General  Grant  was  fully  committed,  in  feeling 
and  action,  to  the  righteous  cause  of  crushing  the  excuse- 


92 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


less  rebellion.  But  he  hoped  the  South  would  see  the 
folly  and  ruin  of  her  course ; he  therefore  avoided  all 
occasions  for  unjust  and  ungenerous  complaint,  whatever 
the  inhumanity  of  his  foes.  How  considerate  and  mag- 
nanimous the  tone  of  the  proclamation,  “ published  for  the 
information  of  the  command  ” : 

Headquarters,  Department  of  Missouri,  i 
St.  Louis,  February  23.  > 

The  Major-General  commanding  this  department  desires  to  im- 
press upon  all  officers  the  importance  of  preserving  good  order  and 
discipline  among  these  troops,  and  the  armies  of  the  West,  during 
their  advance  into  Tennessee  and  the  Southern  States. 

Let  us  show  to  our  fellow  citizens  of  these  States,  that  we  come 
merely  to  crush  out  this  rebellion,  and  to  restore  to  them  peace  and 
the  benefits  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  of  which  they  have 
been  deprived  by  selfish  and  unprincipled  leaders.  They  have  been 
told  that  we  come  to  oppress  and  plunder.  By  our  acts  we  will  un- 
deceive them.  We  will  prove  to  them  that  we  come  to  restore,  not 
violate,  the  Constitution  and  the  laws.  In  restoring  to  them  the  glo- 
rious flag  of  the  Union,  we  will  assure  them  that  they  shall  enjoy, 
under  its  folds,  the  same  protection  of  life  and  property  as  in  former 
days. 

Soldiers  ! let  no  excesses  on  your  part  tarnish  the  glory  of  our 
arms  ! The  orders  heretofore  issued  from  this  department  in  regard 
to  pillaging,  marauding,  and  the  destruction  of  private  property,  and 
the  stealing  and  concealment  of  slaves,  must  be  strictly  enforced.  It 
does  not  belong  to  the  military  to  decide  upon  the  relation  of  master 
and  slave.  Such  questions  must  be  settled  by  the  civil  courts.  No 
fugitive  slave  will,  therefore,  be  admitted  within  our  lines  or  camps, 
except  when  especially  ordered  by  the  General  commanding.  Women 
and  children,  merchants,  farmers,  and  all  persons  not  in  arms,  are  to 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


93 


be  regarded  as  non-combatants,  and  are  not  to  be  molested,  either  in 
their  persons  or  property.  If,  however,  they  assist  and  aid  the 
enemy,  they  become  belligerents,  and  will  be  treated  as  such.  As 
they  violate  the  laws  of  war,  they  will  be  made  to  suffer  the  penalties 
of  such  violation. 

Military  stores  and  public  property  of  the  enemy  must  be  surren- 
dered ; and  any  attempt  to  conceal  such  property  by  fraudulent  trans- 
fer, or  otherwise,  will  be  punished.  But  no  private  property  will  be 
touched,  unless  by  order  of  the  General  commanding. 

Whenever  it  becomes  necessary,  forced  contributions  for  sup- 
plies and  subsistence  for  our  troops  will  be  made.  • Such  levies  will 
be  made  as  light  as  possible,  and  be  so  distributed  as  to  produce  no 
distress  among  the  people.  All  property  so  taken  must  be  receipted 
fully  and  accepted  for  as  heretofore  directed. 

These  orders  will  be  read  at  the  head  of  every  regiment,  and  all 
officers  are  commanded  strictly  to  enforce  them. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Halleck. 

W.  H.  McLean'.  Adjutant-General. 

By  order  of  Major-General  U.  S.  Grant. 

J.  A.  Rawlixs,  A.  A.  G. 

Then  came  the  evacuation  of  Nashville  by  the  enemy, 
and  its  occupation  by  our  troops  under  General  Buell,  of 
whom  a rebel  officer  remarked  : 

“We  can  leave  our  homes,  and  General  Buell  will 
protect  our  slave  property  more  vigilantly  than  we  can  do 
it  ourselves.” 

February  23d,  General  Grant  accompanied  Admiral 
Foote  up  the  river  to  Nashville.  The  sail  was  ail  unlike 
bloody  war  ! The  banks  were  green,  the  birds  singing  in 
the  fragrant  air,  and  bloom  and  verdure  lay  in  the  back- 


94 


LIFE  OF  GENEEAL  GHANT. 


ground  to  the  horizon’s  rim.  A week  had  passed  since 
the  dead  of  Donelson  were  buried ; and  the  wounded  were 
lying  without  such  sights  to  gladden  the  filmy  eye  of  the 
wasted  warriors.  When  the  troops  still  in  the  ranks 
walked  the  streets  of  Nashville,  no  rebels  were  so  in- 
sulting as  females.  General  Buell  could  not  endure  it, 
even  from  Southern  women.  Look  up  to  that  handsome 
piazza,  under  whose  shadow  he  is  passing.  The  fair  and 
proud  owner  waves  a secession  flag,  shouting : “ Hurrah 
for  Jeff.  Davis  and  the  Southern  Confederacy  ! ” The 
General’s  horse  makes  “ right  about  face,”  and  the  rider 
lifts  his  hat,  quietly  saying  : “ An  excellent  house  for  a 
hospital.”  Before  the  sun  went  down,  the  ambulances 
stood  before  the  door  of  the  mansion,  and  the  stretchers 
passed  through  it. 

General  Grant  called  on  Mrs.  James  K.  Polk,  the 
widow  of  the  former  President,  under  whose  administra- 
tion was  opened  the  Mexican  war,  and  the  cadet  com- 
menced his  military  career.  He  little  dreamed  then,  he 
should  ever  call  upon  the  widow,  a rebel  in  a conquered 
city. 

The  interview  was  cold  and  formal.  She  merely  ex- 
pressed the  hope  that  her  husband’s  tomb  would  be  the 
protection  of  her  home  and  property.  The  United  States, 
which  so  elevated  her  before  almost  unknown  husband,  she 
despised. 

The  work  on  the  Cumberland  was  now  well  done ; and 
the  fleet  of  Commodore  Foote,  who,  since  the  terrible 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


95 


scenes  at  Donelson,  on  crutches  had  been  dragging  his 
swollen,  aching  ankle  around  the  ship’s  deck,  with  cheerful 
devotion  to  the  dear  flag,  started  up  the  Tennessee  River. 

The  voyage  was  often  very  exciting.  The  Union 
citizens,  who  from  fear  had  been  silent,  came  out  openly, 
and,  lining  the  banks,  hailed  with  shouts  of  welcome  the 
starry  banner  of  their  country.  Others  muttered  words 
of  scorn  and  hate,  and  acted  more  like  growling  demons 
than  Americans. 

Finding  there  were  not  lare;e  bodies  of  the  hostile 
troops  in  the  region,  General  Grant  removed  his  head- 
quarters from  St.  Louis  to  Fort  Henry,  resolved  to  push 
the  war  ships  a hundred  miles  or  more  up  the  Tennessee. 

It  is  a singular  fact,  showing  how  much  mean  rivalry 
and  disloyalty  there  has  been  in  the  army  and  at  the 
North,  that,  soon  as  a general  became  successful,  the  slan- 
derous report  went  abroad,  and  efforts  were  made  for  his 
removal.  But  in  some  instances,  the  cause  of  disaffec- 
tion, if  known,  would  have  justly  awakened  public  indig- 
nation. 

When  General  Grant  was  appointed  to  his  command, 
he  was  approached  by  certain  reporters  of  the  press,  to 
secure  a place,  and  the  compensation  of  it,  on  his  staff. 
Generals  Halleek,  Sherman,  and  C.  F.  Smith  agreed  with 
the  upright  Grant,  that  no  Government  funds  should  be 
applied  to  such  a purpose.  The  “ cut  ” made  a wound, 
whose  irritation  was  aimed  at  the  offenders.  General 
Sherman  was  called  crazy,  and  General  Smith  a traitor. 


96 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


It  was  only  at  the  special  request  of  General  Grant,  that 
the  Senate  confirmed  the  nomination  of  General  Smith, 
and  he  was  able  to  retain  General  Sherman:  he  assuring 
the  Government  that  both  were  true  men. 

Much  of  the  abuse  of  General  Grant,  from  time  to 
time,  is  traceable  to  the  same  source.  It  is  easy  to  give 
offence,  by  stern  integrity,  to  the  “ hangers-on  ” and  fol- 
lowers of  an  army.  It  is  easier  still,  after  a paper,  how- 
ever obscure,  has  boldly  assailed  an  officer,  to  send  the 
evil  report  over  the  world.  Good  people  often  aid  in  the 
circulation  of  a falsehood  undesignedly,  because  they  saw 
not  its  beginning,  and  believe  the  periodical  which  start- 
ed, or  gave  it  currency. 

At  this  juncture,  the  clamor  against  General  Grant 
was  renewed,  and  there  was  some  appearance  of  success 
in  the  shameful  assault  upon  his  character  and  ability. 
But  again  the  attack  proved  a failure. 

On  the  spring  day  of  March  1 1th,  1862 — a season 
which,  in  the  Southern  States,  is  crowned  with  flowers 
and  celebrated  with  sweetest  song  birds,  at  this  early 
date — there  was  a pleasant  and  animating  affair  in  Fort 
Henry.  At  the  commander-in-chicf’s  tent,  a company  of 
officers  were  gathered.  Calling  out  “ the  hero,”  they  pre- 
sented him  with  an  elegant  sword,  to  express  their  high 
regard  and  confidence.  General  Grant  modestly  accepted 
the  gift,  thanking  the  donors  for  their  esteem  and  trust. 
The  blade  was  fine  burnished  steel ; the  handle  of  ivory, 
mounted  with  gold ; two  scabbards  accompanied  it — one 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


97 


of  richest  gilt,  for  parade,  the  plainer  one  for  service.  A 
beautiful  rosewood  case  enclosed  the  elegant  gift ; and  a 
simple  inscription  told  the  story  of  its  presentation  : 

“ Presented  to  General  IT.  S.  Grant,  by  G.  U.  Gra- 
ham, C.  B.  Lagon,  C.  C.  Marsh,  and  John  Cook,  1862.” 

His  mind  was  absorbed  with  the  great  interests  at 
stake,  and  by  the  plans  of  a campaign ; and  it  is  doubtful 
whether  he  thought  of  the  merited  compliment  again, 
unless  he  happened  to  glance  at  the  splendid  weapon. 

Forces  were  immediately  sent  to  scour  the  country, 
and  learn  the  number  and  strength  of  the  enemy.  Not 
far  from  Paris,  Ky.,  a severe  fight  occurred,  resulting  in 
the  loss  of  more  than  a hundred  men  to  the  rebels,  and  of 
the  position.  To  understand  the  exact  posture  of  the  West- 
ern warfare,  you  will  recollect  that  General  Grant  had,  in 
respect  to  important  positions,  cleared  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee of  rebel  occupation  ; and  the  attention  of  the  army 
and  the  country  was  turned  toward  the  Mississippi  River 
to  its  mouth.  At  Corinth,  the  enemy  was  strongly  in- 
trenched, to  guard  the  route  southward,  and  seize  any 
opportunity  that  might  offer  for  regaining  lost  territory. 

Turn  to  the  map,  and  you  will  see  at  once  the  impor- 
tance of  the  place ; situated,  as  it  is,  at  the  junction  of  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston,  and  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroads, 
and  lying  between  the  Mississippi  and  Tennessee  Rivers. 
Besides,  below,  on  the  “Father  of  Waters,”  Island  No. 
10,  a formidable  position  in  the  broad  current,  and  Vicks- 
burg, a strongly  fortified  city,  not  only  on  the  banks  of 
7 


98 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  stream,  hut  at  a great  railroad  junction,  were  across 
the  path  of  the  Northern  battalions,  and  in  the  way  of  the 
gunboats.  The  rebels,  therefore,  did  not  seriously  fear 
any  trouble  on  the  river,  but  prepared  to  meet  the  victo- 
rious foe  at  Corinth,  and  dispute  his  advance  on  the  Ten- 
nessee. To  cover  the  vast  area  of  operations  with  proper 
authority,  a new  division  of  the  battle  field  was  made. 

“ The  Department  of  Mississippi  ” was  created,  including 
the  valley  from  the  western  part  of  Tennessee  and  Ken- 
tucky to  Kansas.  At  its  head  was  General  Halleck. 
General  Grant  had  transported  his  troops  in  steamers 
down  the  Cumberland  and  up  the  Tennessee  to  Pittsburg 
Landing,  which  is  nearly  south  of  Paducah  and  Paris, 
twenty  miles  from  Corinth. 

Jeff.  Davis  had  sent  the  popular  Beauregard  to  the 
Western  field,  to  meet  the  struggle,  and  arouse  the  friends 
of  the  Confederacy  to  aid  in  the  crisis  at  hand.  General 
Albert  Sidney  Johnston  was  the  senior  in  command,  but 
the  former  planned  the  battles  in  his  own  department. 
They  were  at  Corinth.  General  Grant  held  an  important 
command  under  General  Halleck,  and  had  his  headquar- 
ters at  Savannah,  a little  town  ten  miles  from  below  Pitts-  ' 
burg  Landing.  General  Buell,  after  pursuing,  with  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  General  Johnston,  who  retreated  from 
Fort  Donelson  through  Nashville,  leisurely  crossed  the. 
country  to  unite  his  forces  with  those  of  General  ^Grant. 

March  15th,  the  troops  at  Savannah  made  a dash  into 
Tennessee  between  Corinth  and  Jackson,  on  the  road  to 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


99 


Columbus,  burned  a bridge,  and  tore  up  the  track.  The 
effect  of  the  raid  was  to  stop  a long  train  of  rebel  soldiers, 
and  delay  the  concentration  at  the  stronghold,  Corinth. 

The  generals  of  the  Confederate  troons  matured  a bold 
and  shrewd  plan  of  attack.  It  was,  to  anticipate  both 
Corinth  and  General  Buell,  and  steal  the  march  on  Gen- 
eral Grant,  falling  on  him  unexpectedly  and  unprepared, 
“ bs.gging  ” his  army  and  munitions  of  war,  and  seizing 
the  steamers  on  the  river.  Three  miles  from  the  river  is 
Shiloh  church,  an  old  log  house,  with  rough  rafters,  spaces 
between  the  logs  once  filled  with  clay,  windows  with- 
out glass,  and  plain  boards  for  seats.  It  stands  on  one  of 
the  roads  diverging  from  the  main  highway,  leading  from 
Pittsburg  Landing  to  Corinth,  where  more  than  forty 
thousand  rebels  were  organizing  their  grand  advance  on 
General  Grant. 

General  Yan  Dorn  was  expected  from  Arkansas  with 
thirty  thousand  more.  The  petted  generals  of  the  Con- 
federacy were  ready  to  strike.  The  Union  troops  were 
thinking  only  of  the  expected  struggle  at  Corinth.  The 
former  had  fifteen  thousand  more  men  than  we  had.  The 
organization  of  these  splendid  armies  may  interest  you  : 

Commanding  General,  General  Albert  Sidney  John- 
ston. Second  in  command,  General  P.  G.  T.  Beauregard. 
First  Army  Corps,  Lieutenant-General  L.  Polk.  Second 
Army  Corps,  Lieutenant-General  Braxton  Bragg.  Third 
Army  Corps,  Lieutenant-General  W.  J.  Plardee.  Re- 
serves, Major-General  B.  Crittenden. 


100 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Confronting  this  host  were  the  Union  troops,  under 

Commanding  General,  Major-General  U.  S.  Grant. 
First  Division,  Major-General  J.  A.  McClernand.  Second 
Division,  Brigadier-General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace.  Third 
Division,  Major-General  Lewis  Wallace.  Fourth  Divis- 
ion, Brigadier-General  S.  A.  Ilurlbut.  Fifth  Division, 
Brigadier-General  W.  T.  Sherman. 

The  enemy  intended  to  surprise  them  by  a rapid 
march,  at  early  dawn  on  Saturday.  General  Grant 
passed  daily  between  his  headquarters  and  the  Landing. 

On  the  mild  evening  of  April  2d,  1862,  pickets  were 
fired  upon  on  the  Corinth  road,  and  a dash  was  made 
through  a forest,  capturing  several  of  our  men.  Still,  our 
officers  thought  the  enemy  were  only  making  a reconnois- 
sance  ; just  sending  up  a few  troops  to  inquire  after  our 
condition. 

But  General  Grant’s  fears  were  excited.  He  suspected 
an  attack,  and  returned,  after  he  had  gone  for  the  night  to 
Savannah,  and  went  out  himself  as  a scout.  But  no  signs 
of  battle  appearing,  he  again  started  for  his  headquarters, 
leaving  an  order  to  fire  a signal  gun  if  there  were  ap- 
pearances of  battle.  Meanwhile,  General  Johnston  issued 
a stirring  address  to  his  troops  : 

Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi  : 

I have  put  you  in  motion  to  offer  battle  to  the  invaders  of  your 
country,  with  the  resolution  and  discipline  and  valor  becoming  men, 
fighting,  as  you  are,  for  all  worth  living  or  dying  for.  You  can  but 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


101 


march  to  a decisive  victory  over  agrarian  mercenaries,  sent  to  subju- 
gate and  despoil  you  of  your  liberties,  property,  and  honor. 

Remember  the  precious  stake  involved ; remember  the  depend- 
ence of  your  mothers,  your  wives,  your  sisters,  and  your  children,  on 
the  result.  Remember  the  fair,  broad,  abounding  lands,  the  happy 
homes,  that  will  be  desolated  by  your  defeat.  The  eyes  and  hopes 
of  eight  million  people  rest  upon  you.  You  are  expected  to  show 
yourselves  worthy  of  your  valor  and  courage,  worthy  of  the  women 
of  the  South,  whose  noble  devotion  in  this  war  has  never  been  ex- 
ceeded in  any  time.  With  such  incentives  to  brave  deeds,  and  with 
trust  that  God  is  with  us,  your  general  will  lead  -you  confidently  to 
the  combat,  assured  of  success. 

By  order  of  General  A.  S.  Johnston,  Commanding. 

Like  Satan  in  Paradise,  a traitor  anywhere  can  be  elo- 
quent in  his  crime,  if  he  have  genius  and  culture ; and 
more  melancholy  than  insanity  is  such  a spectacle  of  per- 
verted powers. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Saturday  Night — General  Grant  a Scout — The  Signals  of  Battle — The  Com- 
bat Opens— The  Scenes  of  Carnage — The  Critical  Hour— The  Heroic 
Onset — The  Victory— General  Grant’s  Bravery — The  Good  News  in 
New  York  and  Washington — A Speech  in  favor  of  Grant,  who  is  as- 
sailed—Scenes  on  the  Battle  Field  of  Shiloh. 


HE  position  of  affairs,  Saturday  night,  was  un- 
like any  other  in  the  progress  of  the  war. 
There  was  certainly  the  appearance  of  vigilance 
in  our  army.  But  the  divisions  were  scattered ; 
the  Commanding  General  was  at  Savannah,  ten 
miles  from  the  threatened  point,  and  Buell  twenty  miles 
away.  Rebel  sympathizers  in  the  region  had  thoroughly 
posted  the  enemy,  whose  superior  force  had,  it  would 
seem,  every  possible  advantage.  And  you  must  recollect, 
that  nothing  excepting  the  picket  firing  and  light  skirmish- 
ing changed  at  all  the  force  of  the  many  considerations 
which  pointed  to  Corinth,  the  enemy’s  stronghold,  as  the 
battle  field. 

General  Grant,  we  have  seen,  personally  reconnoitred, 
to  discover,  if  there  were  any,  the  indications  that  the 
rebels  had  advanced. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


103 


The  beautiful  Sabbath  dawned.  The  foe,  whose 
knowledge  of  our  strength  and  position,  and  whose 
secrecy  had  favored  the  enthusiastic  expectation  of  an- 
nihilating General  Grant’s  forces,  was  in  striking  distance, 
moving  like  shadows  through  the  twilight  of  the  forest 
toward  the  dreaming  battalions  of  the  Republic.  They 
had  four  lines,  one  behind  the  other ; General  Hardee  led  ; 
next  came  General  Bragg,  then  Bishop  Polk,  and,  lastly, 
General  Breckinridge’s  reserves.  On  they  sweep.  Sleep- 
ing soldiers  in  the  tents  die  before  the  flying  bullets. 
They  bend  in  a semicircle  round  General  Prentiss,  whose 
shouts,  “ Don’t  give  way  ! Stand  firm  ! ” are  in  vain. 

But  where  is  General  Grant  ? “ Boom  ! boom  ! ” 

came  the  sound  of  the  signal  gun  he  had  ordered  if  an 
attack  occurred.  Pie  instantly  ordered  his  horses,  and  the 
train  ready.  He  sent  a messenger  to  General  Buell,  ten 
miles  away ; and,  in  an  hour  and  a quarter,  was  at  the 
head  of  the  army.  The  noble  Sherman  had  already  rid- 
den with  the  speed  of  the  wind  over  the  field  of  chaotic 
strife,  and  stemmed  the  tide  of  disaster. 

I shall  not  attempt  to  give  you  the  exact  aspect  of  the 
field,  but  the  general  result,  especially  General  Grant’s 
part  in  the  fortunes  of  the  day. 

He  found  the  fresh  troops  of  Prentiss  routed.  In- 
deed, the  entire  front  was  broken  in,  and  crushed  back  a 
mile.  The  mad,  proud  surges  of  rebellion,  after  carrying 
on  their  crest  wrecks  of  Prentiss’s,  and  then  McClernand’s 
command,  dashed  against  that  of  Wallace.  A shell  cut 


104 


LIFE  OF  GENEEAL  GKANT. 


open  General  Johnston’s  thigh,  and  he  was  borne  to  the 
rear  to  bleed  to  death,  while  the  terrible  blow  was  con- 
cealed from  his  troops. 

All  the  while,  General  Grant  was  breasting  the  wild 
tumult  of  panic  and  invasion,  causing  the  arrest  of  a 
dozen  frightened  field  officers,  who  were  flying,  and  cry- 
ing, “We  are  whipped  I Let  every  man  who  can,  save 
himself!”  With  General  Sherman  to  second  every 
wisely-ordered  movement,  he  held  and  reorganized  the 
tumultuous  masses  of  soldiery  for  ten  long  hours  of 
bloody  carnage. 

At  length  there  is  a chance  for  the  gunboats  on  the 
river,  and  their  globes  of  iron  and  imprisoned  fire  go 
shrieking,  bursting,  up  the  ravine  down  which  General 
Bragg’s  forces  move,  by  order  of  Beauregard,  to  drive  the 
broken  columns  of  our  army  into  the  river.  Destruction 
rides  upon  the  awful  storm  of  batteries  protected  by,  and 
acting  in  concert  with  the  boats.  Said  Colonel  Fagan, 
of  an  Arkansas  brigade  : 

“ Three  different  times  did  we  go  into  the  ‘ Yalley  of 
Death,’  and  as  often  were  forced  back  by  overwhelming 
numbers,  intrenched  in  a strong  position.  That  all  was 
done  that  possibly  could  be  done,  the  heaps  of  killed  and 
wounded  left  there  give  ample  evidence.” 

About  noon,  General  Buell  reached  the  ground  in 
advance  of  his  columns.  He  asked  General  Grant  what 
preparations  he  had  made  for  retreat  in  case  of  defeat. 

“ I am  not  going  to  be  defeated,”  replied  the  iron  man. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


105 


“ Such  an  event  is  possible,”  added  Buell ; “ and  it  is 
the  duty  of  a prudent  general  to  provide  for  such  a con- 
tingency.” 

General  Grant  pointed  to  the  transports,  quietly  ask- 
ing: 

“ Don’t  you  see  those  boats  ? ” 

“ Yes ; but  they  will  not  carry  more  than  ten  thou- 
sand, and  we  have  thirty  thousand.” 

“ Well,  ten  thousand  are  more  than  I intend  to  retreat 
with,”  replied  General  Grant.  General  Buell  evidently 
anticipated  defeat. 

When  the  sun  hung  low  in  the  sky  of  that  Sabbath 
day,  he  sent  his  beams  aslant  through  the  murky  atmos- 
phere, and  along  the  ghastly  heaps  of  the  fallen.  “We 
shall  hold  them  yet,”  General  Grant  had  said,  even  before 
any  besides  himself  believed  it.  Yes,  that  fading  sunlight 
has  morning  splendor  in  its  farewell,  to  his  eye.  What- 
ever others  may  have  thought  then,  or  still  believe,  Gen- 
eral Grant  expected  to  come  unconquered  out  of  the  dire 
confusion. 

There  is  a commotion  on  the  bank  opposite,  and  then 
a shout.  General  Buell  is  in  sight.  “ Hurrah  ! hurrah  ! 
hurrah  ! ” The  boats  cross,  and  receive  the  timely  re- 
enforcement. 

Oh,  what  a night  was  that,  while  we  in  our  Northern 
homes  were  reposing  peacefully  after  the  undisturbed 
worship  of  the  hallowed  time  ! The  shells  went  scream- 
ing through  the  sky,  the  terrible  tokens  of  an  /nwilling 


106 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


* 

pause  in  the  combat.  Tents  and  arms  wore  ruddy  gleams 
from  the  forest  fired  by  the  burning  fragments  scat- 
tered among  the  dry  leaves  and  branches.  The  trans- 
ports steamed  back  and  forth  on  the  lurid  waters,  convey- 
ing the  troops  of  General  Buell,  which  ought  to  have 
been  within  available  distance  three  days  before. 

Monday’s  sun  streaked  with  herald  beams  the  east, 
when  General  Grant,  with  General  Buell’s  army  of  the 
Ohio  added,  anticipated  Beauregard,  whose  intention  it 
was  to  fall  on  the  Union  troops  and  gain  the  Landing,  and 
ordered  an  attack.  The  fancied  annihilator  of  General 
Grant  was  met  by  Nelson,  on  whose  front  the  gunboats 
had  driven  back  the  rebels.  For  an  hour  the  doubtful 
struggle  raged,  till  Mendenhall’s  battery  came  up,  and 
poured  in  the  grape.  Hazen  also  was  ordered  forward. 
“ Into  position  there  ! Lively,  men  ! ” shouts  Captain 
Tirrell  to  his  battery,  flying  from  one  thundering  tube  of 
flame  to  another.  “ Grape  and  canister  ! ” he  said  to  the 
officers  of  the  twelve-pounders,  and  away  he  rode  again 
to  another  post  of  peril. 

Crittenden,  McCook,  Bousseau,  advance.  A little 
later,  the  general  and  final  engagement  is  opened.  Then, 
what  deeds  of  valor  lend  sanguinary  glory  to  the  awful 
plains  of  battle  for  a nation’s  life  ! The  falling  banner  is 
seized,  before  it  touches  the  dust,  from  the  hand  of  the 
slain.  Colonel  Ammen,  the  first  in  the  broken  lines  from 
General  Buell’s  transports,  husks  corn  and  feeds  his  noble 
steed  in  the  tempest  of  shells.  The  maddened  host  of  trea- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


107 


son  fall  like  a descending  avalanclie  on  the  right  wing,  left 
wing,  and  centre ; and  while  our  ranks  go  down  in  heaps, 
theirs  also  fall,  but  without  any  faltering  or  abatement  of 
fiery  valor.  Major  Taylor’s  Chicago  artillery  cuts  a ter- 
rible swath  through  their  heavy  columns ; and  when  the 
smoke  lifts,  no  sign  of  havoc  remains,  save  under  their 
feet ; the  same  compact  front  appears.  The  rebels,  intoxi- 
cated with  whiskey  in  which  was  dissolved  gunpowder, 
and  recklessly  confident  of  driving  our  troops  into  the 
Tennessee,  shout  along  the  lines,  “ Bull  Bun ! Bull  Run  ! ” 
And  when  our  troops  prevail,  they  shout  back  again, 
“ Fort  Donelson  ! Fort  Donelson  ! ” 

Wrote  an  eyewitness  of  the  terrific  conflict : 

“ General  Grant  and  staff,  who  had  been  recklessly 
riding  along  the  lines  during  the'  entire  day,  amid  the  un- 
ceasing storm  of  bullets,  grape,  and  shell,  now  rode  from 
right  to  left,  inciting  the  men  to  stand  firm. 

“About  three  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  he  rode  to  the 
left,  where  the  fresh  regiments  had  been  ordered,  and, 
finding  the  rebels  wavering,  sent  a portion  of  his  body 
guard  to  the  head  of  each  of  five  regiments,  and  then 
ordered  a charge  across  the  field,  himself  leading ; and  as 
he  brandished  his  sword  and  waved  them  on  to  the  crown- 
ing victory,  the  cannon  balls  were  falling  like  hail  around 
him. 

“ The  men  followed  with  a shout  that  sounded  above 
the  roar  and  din  of  the  artillery,  and  the  rebels  fled  in  dis- 


108 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


may  as  from  a destroying  avalanche,  and  never  made 
another  stand. 

“ General  Buell  followed  the  retreating  rebels,  driving 
them  in  splendid  style,  and  by  half-past  five  o’clock  the 
whole  rebel  army  was  in  full  retreat  to  Corinth,  with  our 
cavalry  in  hot  pursuit,  with  what  further  result  is  not 
known,  not  having  returned  up  to  this  hour.” 

The  die  was  cast — the  victory  won — the  army  saved  ! 
And  the  inspiring,  resolute,  heroic  Grant,  with  the  brave 
leaders  about  him,  and  General  Buell’s  contribution  of 
troops,  had  wrung  the  success  from  the  jaws  of  destruction. 
He  rode  with  his  staff  through  the  two  days’  carnage  with 
majestic  calmness,  often  within  range  of  the  enemy’s  guns, 
and  the  target  of  their  fire.  A cannon  ball  took  off 
Captain  Carson’s  head  by  his  side. 

The  day  after  the  victory,  General  Beauregard  sent  a 
despatch  to  General  Grant,  requesting  permission  to  enter 
his  lines  and  bury  the  dead.  He  replied,  that,  owing  to 
the  warmth  of  the  weather,  the  slain  had  been  at  once 
interred,  and  there  could  be  no  occasion  for  a delegation  to 
come  across  the  boundary  between  the  ravaged  armies. 

While  the  South  was  jubilant  over  the  false  report  of 
Beauregard,  that  he  “ had  a great  and  glorious  victory,’’ 
how  sublime  the  Sabbath  scenes  which  followed  the  bat- 
tle ! The  chaplains  of  the  noble  army  were  leading  thou- 
sands of  devout  soldiers  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to 
God. 

An  amusing  incident  made  a singular  interlude  to  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


109 


worship  of  one  assembly.  The  chaplain  was  reading  the 
lines, 

“ Show  pity,  Lord  ; 0 Lord,  forgive  ! 

Let  a repenting  rebel  live  ; ” 

when  a patriotic  soldier,  forgetting  the  exact  meaning, 
exclaimed  : 

“No,  sir;  not  unless  they  lay  down  their  arms,  every 
one  of  them.” 

Of  the  Union  troops,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
fourteen  were  slain,  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
twenty-one  wounded,  and  three  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  sixty-three  missing  ; making  the  entire  loss  more  than 
thirteen  thousand  men.  The  enemy’s  loss  was  at  least  as 
great.  Over  twenty-five  thousand  husbands,  fathers,  and 
sons,  killed,  mangled,  captured,  and  astray,  is  the  cost  of  a 
single  battle  ! 

The  gallant  commander,  who  was  himself  slightly 
wounded  in  the  ankle,  commenced  his  despatches,  giving 
the  details  of  the  conflict,  in  these  words  : 

“ It  becomes  my  duty  again  to  report  another  battle, 
fought  by  two  great  armies,  one  contending  for  the  best 
government  ever  devised,  and  the  other  for  its  destruc- 
tion. It  is  pleasant  to  record  the  success  of  the  army 
contending  for  the  former  principle.” 

The  tidings  went  like  fire  in  a prairie  over  the  great 
city  of  New  York,  until  the  wild  joy  rose  from  half  a 
million  of  patriotic  hearts.  Thence  it  was  telegraphed  to 


110 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  President,  and  both  Houses  of  Congress.  Mr.  Colfax, 
since  Speaker,  asked  leave  to  read  the  telegram.  Amid 
cheers  on  every  side  rose  the  cry : “ To  the  Clerk’s 
desk  I To  the  Clerk’s  desk  1 ” Mr.  Colfax  obeyed  ; and, 
in  a moment,  all  was  still  as  the  chamber  of  death.  Full 
and  clear  the  glad  news  floated  through  the  halls  of  the 
Capitol.  "When  the  last  word  echoed  on  the  air,  the 
breathless  silence  of  an  instant  was  broken  by  the  most 
enthusiastic  demonstrations  of  delight.  A salute  of  one 
hundred  guns  was  fired ; and  the  only  faces  shaded  with 
gloom,  were  those  of  the  mourners  for  “ the  unreturning 
brave,”  and  of  the  disloyal  parasites  of  the  imperilled 
Government.  The  War  Department,  in  behalf  of  the 
Government,  thanked  the  hero. 

But  the  poisoned  arrows  of  jealousy  and  hate — in 
some  instances,  perhaps,  misapprehension — were  aimed 
afresh,  and  with  more  determined  opposition,  at  the  idol 
of  the  loyal  people.  The  governors  of  several  of  the 
Western  States  waited  on  General  Halleck,  and  asked  for 
Grant’s  removal,  urging  the  loss  of  life  at  Shiloh,  and 
declaring  him  wanting  in  capacity  and  sobriety.  General 
Halleck  knew  the  hero  too  well  to  part  with  him,  and 
placed  him  second  in  command  to  himself. 

Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne,  of  Illinois,  defended  General 
Grant  from  the  detraction  of  his  enemies,  in  an  eloquent 
speech  on  the  floor  of  Congress.  My  youthful  reader  will 
enjoy  its  perusal,  and  desire  to  preserve  it.  The  following 
are  its  most  striking  passages  : 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Ill 


“I  come  before  tbe  House  to  do  a great  act  of  justice 
to  a soldier  in  the  field,  and  to  vindicate  him  from  the 
obloquy  and  misrepresentation  so  persistently  and  cruelly 
thrust  before  the  country.  I refer  to  a distinguished  Gen- 
eral, who  has  recently  fought  the  bloodiest  and  hardest 
battle  ever  fought  on  this  continent,  and  won  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  victories.  I mean  the  battle  of  Pittsburg 
Landing,  and  Major-General  Ulysses  S.  Grant.  Though 
but  forty  years  old,  he  has  been  oftener  under  fire,  and 
been  in  more  battles,  than  any  other  man  living  on  this 
continent,  excepting  that  great  chieftain  now  reposing  on 
his  laurels  and  on  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  Lieu- 
tenant-General Scott.  He  was  in  every  battle  in  Mexico 
that  was  possible  for  any  one  man  to  be  in.  He  has 
received  the  baptismal  of  fire.  No  young  officer  came  out 
of  the  Mexican  war  with  more  distinction  than  Grant,  and 
the  records  of  the  War  Department  bear  official  testimony 
to  his  gallant  and  noble  deeds.  Pie  resigned  in  1855,  -and 
afterward  settled  in  Galena,  in  the  district  I have  the 
honor  to  represent  on  this  floor. 

“ I came  here  to  speak  as  an  Illinoisian,  proud  of  his 
noble  and  patriotic  State ; proud  of  its  great  history  now 
being  made  up  ; proud,  above  all  earthly  things,  of  her 
brave  soldiers,  who  are  shedding  their  blood  upon  all  the 
battle  fields  of  the  Republic.  If  the  laurels  of  Grant 
shall  ever  be  withered,  it  will  not  be  done  by  the  Illinois 
soldiers  who  have  followed  his  victorious  banner. 

“ But  to  the  victory  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  which  has 


112 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


called  forth  such  a flood  of  denunciation  upon  General 
Grant.  When  we  consider  the  charges  of  bad  general- 
ship, incompetency,  and  surprise,  do  we  not  feel  that 
‘ even  the  joy  of  the  people  is  cruel  ’ ? As  to  the  ques- 
tion whether  there  was,  or  not,  what  might  be  called  a 
surprise,  I will  not  argue  it ; but  even  if  there  had  been, 
General  Grant  is  nowise  responsible  for  it,  for  he  was  not 
surprised.  He  was  at  his  headquarters  at  Savannah  when 
the  fight  commenced.  Those  headquarters  were  estab- 
lished there,  as  being  the  most  convenient  point  for  all 
parts  of  his  command.  Some  of  the  troops  were  at 
Crump’s  Landing,  between  Savannah  and  Pittsburg,  and 
all  the  new  arrivals  were  coming  to  Savannah.  That  was 
the  proper  place  for  the  headquarters  of  the  Commanding 
General  at  that  time.  The  General  visited  Pittsburg 
Lauding  and  all  the  important  points  every  day.  The 
attack  was  made  Sunday  morning  by  a vastly  superior 
force.  In  five  minutes  after  the  first  firing  was  heard, 
General  Grant  and  staff  were  on  the  way  to  the  bat- 
tle field ; and,  instead  of  not  reaching  the  field  till 
ten  o’clock,  or,  as  has  been  still  more  falsely  repre- 
sented, till  noon,  I have  a letter  before  me  from  one 
of  his  aids  who  was  with  him,  and  who  says  he  arrived 
there  at  eight  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and  immediately 
assumed  command.  There  he  directed  the  movements, 
and  was  always  on  that  part  of  the  field  where  his  pres- 
ence was  most  required,  exposing  his  life,  and  evincing,  in 
his  dispositions,  the  genius  of  the  greatest  commanders 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


113 


"With  what  desperate  bravery  that  battle  of  Sunday  was 
fought ! what  display  of  prowess  and  courage ! what 
prodigies  of  valor  ! Our  troops,  less  than  forty  thousand, 
attacked  by  more  than  eighty  thousand  of  the  picked  men 
of  the  rebels,  led  by  their  most  distinguished  generals  ! 

“ There  is  no  more  temperate  man  in  the  army  than 
General  Grant.  He  never  indulges  in  the  use  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors  at  all.  He  is  an  example  of  courage,  honor, 
fortitude,  activity,  temperance,  and  modesty,  for  he  is  as 
modest  as  he  is  brave  and  incorruptible.  To  the  bravery 
and  fortitude  of  Lannes,  he  adds  the  stern  republican  sim- 
plicity of  Guvion  St.  Cyr.  It  is  almost  vain  to  hope  that 
full  justice  will  ever  be  done  to  men  who  have  been  thus 
attacked.  Truth  is  slow  upon  the  heels  of  falsehood.  It 
has  been  well  said,  that  ‘ Falsehood  will  travel  from  Maine 
to  Georgia  while  Truth  is  putting  on  its  boots.’ 

“ Let  no  gentleman  have  any  fears  of  General  Grant. 
He  is  no  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  He  is  no  poli- 
tician. Inspired  by  the  noblest  patriotism,  he  only  desires 
to  do  his  whole  duty  to  his  country.  When  the  war  shall 
be  over,  he  will  return  to  his  home,  and  sink  the  soldier  in 
the  simple  citizen.” 

The  tribute  was  just  and  appropriate.  History  gives 
no  account  of  a war  in  which  there  was  so  much  to 
learn  by  the  combatants,-  and  in  regard  to  which,  in 
the  command  of  troops,  so  frequent  changes  were  made 
as  in  the  Union  army.  Washington  held  his  position  at 
the  head  of  the  Revolutionary  forces  through  all  the 
8 


114 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


struggle,  and  his  generals  were  seldom  removed.  Used  to 
politics  and  unused  to  war,  we  have  made  great  mistakes, 
hut  are  also  making  great  progress  in  real  knowledge  and 
strength.  Universal  freedom  and  well-being  will  he  ad- 
vanced through  the  nation’s  blood  and  tears, 

It  is  interesting  and  useful  to  leave,  occasionally,  the 
storm  of  battle,  the  deeds  of  valor,  the  cruelty  and  un- 
holy ambition,  and  look,  as  we  have  done,  upon  scenes 
which  attend,  and  yet  are  apart  from  the  contest.  The 
bravest  commanders  often  weep  over  these  results  of  war, 
seldom  found  in  the  flaming  bulletins  of  the  strife. 

It  is  Tuesday  morning,  and  the  wounded  strewn  over 
the  field  of  Shiloh  are  borne  away  to  hospitals,  Among 
them  is  a brave,  pious,  and  fatally  wounded  captain.  He 
was  shot  through  both  thighs  with  a bullet.  While  car- 
ried from  the  ground  covered  with  pools  of  water  and 
blood,  he  gives  the  following  narrative  of  the  long  night, 
whose  shades  had  just  departed,  and  uncovered  its  horrors 
to  the  calm,  sweet  light : 

“ While  lying  there,  I suffered  intense  agony  from 
thirst.  I leaned  my  head  upon  my  hand,  and  the  rain 
from  heaven  was  falling  around  me.  In  a little  while  a 
pool  of  water  formed  under  my  elbow,  and  I thought,  if  I 
could  only  get  to  that  puddle,  I might  quench  the  burning 
thirst.  I tried  to  get  into  a position  to  suck  up  a mouth- 
ful of  muddy  water,  but  was  unable  to  reach  within  a foot 
ot  it.  I never  felt  so  much  the  loss  of  any  earthly  bless- 
ing. By  and  by,  night  fell,  and  the  stars  shone  out  clear 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


115 


and  beautiful  above  the  dark  field,  and  I began  to  think  of 
that  great  God  who  had  given  His  Son  to  die  a death  of 
agony  for  me,  and  that  He  was  up  there — up  above  the 
scene  of  suffering,  and  above  these  glorious  stars ; and  I 
felt  that  I was  going  home  to  meet  Him,  and  praise  Him 
there ; and  I felt  that  I ought  to  praise  God,  even 
wounded  and  on  the  battle  field.  I could  not  help  singing 
that  beautiful  hymn  ; 

‘ When  I can  read  niy  title  clear 
To  mansions  in  the  skies, 

I’ll  bid  farewell  to  every  fear, 

And  wipe  my  weeping  eyes.’ 

And  there  was  a Christian  brother  in  the  brush  near  me. 
I could  not  see  him,  but  I could  hear  him.  He  took  up 
the  strain,  and  beyond  him  another  and  another  caught  it 
up,  all  over  the  terrible  battle  field  of  Shiloh.  That  night 
the  echo  was  resounding,  and  we  made  the  field  of  battle 
ring  with  hymns  of  praise  to  God.” 

No  commander  before  Grant,  since  time  began,  has 
recorded  of  his  wTar  plains  such  a scene — so  sublime,  so 
holy  ! General  Rousseau,  the  Marshal  Junot  of  our  army, 
a dashing,  gallant,  splendid  officer,  in  his  correspondence 
gives  this  touching  narrative  : 

“ Two  days  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  I walked  into 
the  hospital  tent  on  the  ground  where  the  fiercest  contest 
had  taken  place,  and  where  many  of  our  men,  and  those 
of  the  enemy,  had  fallen.  The  hospital  was  exclusively 


116 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


for  the  wounded  rebels,  and  they  were  laid  thickly  around. 
Many  of  them  were  Kentuckians,  of  Breckinridge’s  com- 
mand. As  I stepped  into  the  tent  and  spoke  to  some  one, 
I was  addressed  by  a voice,  the  childish  tone  of  which 
arrested  my  attention. 

“ ‘ That’s  General  Rousseau  ! General,  I knew  your 
son  Dickey.  • Where  is  Dick  ? I knew  him  very  well.’ 

“Turning  to  him,  I saw,  stretched  on  the  ground,  a 
handsome  boy,  sixteen  years  of  age.  His  face  was  a 
bright  one,  but  the  hectic  glow  and  flush  on  the  cheeks, 
his  restless  manner,  and  his  gasping  and  catching  his 
breath  as  he  spoke,  alarmed  me.  I knelt  by  his  side,  and 
pressed  his  fevered  brow  with  my  hand,  and  would  have 
taken  the  child  into  my  arms,  if  I could. 

“ ‘And  who  are  you,  my  son  ? ’ said  I. 

“ ‘ Why,  I am  Eddy  McFadden,  from  Smithville,’ 
was  the  reply.  ‘ I knew  you,  General,  and  I knew  your 
son  Dick.  I’ve  played  with  him.  Where  is  Dick  ? ’ 

“ I thought  of  my  own  dear  boy — of  what  might  have 
befallen  him  ; that  he,  too,  deluded  by  villains,  might,  like 
this  poor  boy,  have  been  mortally  wounded,  among  stran- 
gers, and  left  to  die.  My  heart  bled  for  the  poor  child ; 
my  manhood  gave  way,  and  burning  tears  attested,  in 
spite  of  me,  my  intense  suffering.  I asked  him  of  his 
father.  He  had  no  father.  ‘Your  mother?’  He  had 
no  mother.  ‘ Brothers  and  sisters  ? ’ ‘I  have  a brother,’ 
said  he.  ‘ I never  knew  what  soldiering  was.  I was  but 
a boy,  and  they  got  me  off  down  here.’ 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


117 


“ He  was  shot  through  the  shoulder  and  lungs.  I 
asked  him  what  he  needed.  He  said  he  was  cold,  and  the 
ground  was  hard.  I had  no  tent,  nor  blankets  ; our  bag- 
gage was  all  in  the  rear,  at  Savannah.  But  I sent  the 
poor  boy  my  saddle  blanket,  and  returned  the  next  morn- 
ing with  lemons  for  him  and  the  rest ; but  his  brother,  in 
the  Second  Kentucky  Begiment,  had  taken  him  over  to 
his  regiment,  to  nurse  him.  I never  saw  the  child  again. 
He  died  in  a day  or  two.  Peace  to  his  ashes  ! ” 

What  a young  and  beautiful  victim  of  treasonable 
men  ! What  a terrible  necessity  is  war  ! 


CHAPTER  X. 


Corinth  the  next  Goal  of  the  Army— Getting  ready  to  March— The 
“ Grand  Army  of  the  Tennessee ’’—The  Advance— The  Siege— The  Sur- 
render—The  Pursuit— The  captured  Sheep — General  Halleck’e  Farewell 
—Grant  at  Memphis— How  he  deals  with  Traitors. 

ORINTH  is  the  ancient  and  scriptural  name  of  a 
village,  or  small  city,  in  Mississippi,  near  the 
boundary  of  Tennessee,  which  contained,  be- 
fore the  war,  twelve  hundred  inhabitants.  The 
low  lands  in  which  it  is  situated,  in  wet 
weather  are  a swamp ; in  “a  dry  time,”  a plain  of 
hard  clay.  In  the  background  are  ridges,  affording  ele- 
vated land  for  lines  of  defence.  It  has  been  already 
stated,  that  two  grand  railways  have  their  junction  at 
Corinth,  which  made  it  quite  indispensable  to  the 
rebels.  Here  were  Beauregard’s  fine  headquarters,  with 
telegraph  wires  running  in  every  direction  from  his  man- 
sion. 

A few  days  after  the  field  of  Shiloh  was  won,  General 
Smith,  chief  of  cavalry,  was  ordered  to  make  a reconnois- 
sance  in  that  direction. 

Toward  Pea  Ridge  another  survey  was  made. 


The 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


119 


Mississippi  had  been  opened  below  Island  No.  10,  which 
woke  up  the  rebel  chief  to  the  possibility  of  danger  to  his 
cause  in  the  great  Southwest.  To  the  planters  he  said  : 
“Apply  the  torch  to  your  cotton!  ” He  thought,  if  the 
white  heaps  of  the  precious  plunder  were  turned  into  bon- 
fires, it  would  discourage  the  Union  troops  from  fighting. 
How  stupid  such  an  idea  in  a shrewd  general — when  we 
had  begun  a fight  on  purpose  to  dethrone,  sack,  and  make 
an  ally  to  liberty  of  “ King  Cotton  ” ! 

^Reconnoitring  and  skirmishing  were  all  that  was 
attempted  till  blooming  May,  the  anniversary  of  General 
Grant’s  youthful  soldiering  in  Mexico,  when  for  the  first 
time  “ under  fire,”  sixteen  years  before.  General  Halleck 
was  resolved  to  have  an  invincible  army  in  the  grand 
advance  upon  Corinth.  He  therefore  gathered  all  the 
troops  that  could  be  spared  in  his  extensive  department  to 
Pittsburg  Landing,  and  called  the  combined  forces  the 
“ Grand  Army  of  the  Tennessee.”  This  title  was  a 
marked  honor  to  Grant,  who  had  been  at  the  head  of  the 
army  of  the  Tennessee.  He  had  command  of  the  right 
wing ; General  Buell  of  the  centre,  or  Army  of  the  Ohio ; 
and  General  Pope  of  the  left  wing,  or  Army  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. In  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  under  General 
Grant,  were  twice  the  number  of  men  included  in  either 
of  the  other  armies. 

Beauregard  was  prepared  for  the  expected  encounter 
at  Corinth.  After  a council  at  General  Halleck’s  head- 
quarters, May  11th,  the  advance  began.  And  now  the 


120 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


vast  host  moved  in  all  the  grandeur  of  fully  equipped  aud 
resolute  legions,  toward  a foe  prepared  to  dispute  the 
onward  march  to  their  stronghold. 

May  17th,  the  first  shock  came.  The  Fifth  Division 
of  General  Grant’s  army,  under  Sherman,  met  the  rebels 
in  a severe  conflict  on  the  road  to  Corinth.  They  had  to 
fall  back  before  the  human  tide,  crested  with  fire  and  steel, 
that  beat  in  successive  waves  upon  their  opposing  battle 
surges.  This  victory  is  inscribed  on  the  banner  of  the 
splendid  division  who  won  it,  “ Russell’s  Court  House  ” — 
a spot  crimsoned  with  the  blood  with  which  it  was  pur- 
chased. This  brief  contest  only  opened  the  way  to  the 
fortress  of  rebel  strength.  And  the  question  was,  IIow 
shall  Corinth  be  taken  ? It  must  either  be  by  direct  and 
bloody  assault,  or  by  siege ; surrounding  it,  and  compelling 
the  imprisoned  army  to  surrender. 

Beauregard  watched  with  sleepless  vigilance  his  foe. 
tie  ordered  troops  to  intrench  on  a ridge  near  Phillips’s 
Creek,  and  oppose  the  Union  forces.  General  T.  Davis, 
of  General  Grant’s  army,  approached  the  works ; then, 
feigning  a retreat,  drew  the  garrison  out,  when  a severe 
struggle  routed  the  enemy  completely.  This  occurred 
May  21st;  and  on  the  27th,  General  Sherman  also  had  a 
fight  with  the  rebels. 

Through  all  the  days  of  skirmishing,  pitched  battle, 
and  marching,  the  parallels,  or  long  lines  of  our  brave 
men,  had  pushed  the  front  nearer  and  nearer  to  Corinth. 
May  28th,  General  Grant  pressed  up  in  force  to  within 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


121 


gunshot  of  the  fortifications,  to  ascertain  the  posture  ancl 
power  of  the  enemy.  He  was  resisted,  but  beat  back  the 
rebels. 

The  decisive  horn-  has  come  ; all  is  activity  and  excite- 
ment. We  can  give  you  a no  more  vivid  description  of 
the  stirring  and  awfully  sublime  scenes  of  such  a crisis  in 
army  operations,  than  one  found  in  a letter  from  this  field 
to  the  Cincinnati  Gazette  : 

“ Regiments  and  artillery  are  placed  in  position,  and, 
generally,  the  cavalry  is  in  advance ; but  when  the  oppo- 
sing forces  are  in  close  proximity,  the  infantry  does  the 
work.  The  whole  front  is  covered  by  a cloud  of  skir- 
mishers, and  then  reserves  formed,  and  then,  in  connection 
with  the  main  line,  they  advance.  For  a moment,  all  is 
still  as  the  grave  to  those  in  the  background ; as  the  line 
moves  on,  the  eye  is  strained  in  vain  to  follow  the  skir- 
mishers as  they  creep  silently  forward  ; then,  from  some 
point  of  the  line,  a single  rifle  rings  through  the  forest, 
sharp  and  clear,  and,  as  if  in  echo,  another  answers  it. 
In  a moment  more  the  whole  line  resounds  with  the  din  of 
arms.  Here  the  fire  is  slow  and  steady,  there  it  rattles 
with  fearful  rapidity ; and  this,  mingled  with  the  great 
roar  of  the  reserves  as  the  skirmishers  chance  at  any  point 
to  be  driven  in : and  if,  by  reason  of  superior  force,  these 
reserves  fall  back  to  the  main  force,  then  every  nook  and 
corner  seems  full  of  sound.  The  batteries  open  their 
terrible  voices,  and  their  shells  sing  horribly  while  winging 
their  flight,  and  their  dull  explosion  speaks  plainly  of 


• 122 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


deatli ; their  canister  and  grape  go  crashing  through  the 
trees,  rifles  ring,  rhe  muskets  roar,  and  the  din  is  terrific. 
Then  the  slackening  of  the  fire  denotes  the  withdrawing 
of  the  one  party,  and  the  more  distant  picket  firing  that 
the  work  was  accomplished.  The  silence  becomes  almost 
painful  after  such  a scene  as  this,  and  no  one  can  conceive 
of  the  effect  who  has  not  experienced  it ; it  cannot  be 
described.  The  occasional  firing  of  the  pickets,  which 
shows  that  the  new  lines  arc  established,  actually  occasions 
a sense  of  relief.  The  movements  of  the  mind  under 
such  circumstances  are  sudden  and  strong.  It  awaits  with 
intense  anxiety  the  opening  of  the  contest ; it  rises  with 
the  din  of  battle  ; it  sinks  with  the  lull  which  follows  it, 
and  finds  itself  in  fit  condition  to  sympathize  most  deeply 
with  the  torn  and  bleeding  ones  that  are  fast  being  borne 
to  the  rear. 

“ When  the  ground  is  clear,  then  the  time  for  working 
parties  has  arrived ; and,  as  this  is  the  description  of  a 
real  scene,  let  me  premise  that  the  works  were  to  reach 
through  the  centre  of  a large  open  farm  of  at  least  three 
hundred  acres,  surrounded  by  woods,  one  side  of  it  being 
occupied  by  rebel  pickets.  These  had  been  driven  back, 
as  I have  described. 

“ The  line  of  the  works  was  selected,  and,  at  the  word 
of  command,  three  thousand  men,  with  axes,  spades,  and 
picks,  stepped  out  into  the  open  field  from  their  cover  in 
the  woods.  In  almost  as  short  a time  as  it  takes  to  tell  it, 
the  fence  rails  which  surrounded  and  divided  three  hun- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


123 


dred  acres  into  convenient  farm  lots  were  on  the  shoulders 
of  the  men,  and  on  the  way  to  the  intended  line  of 
works.  In  a few  moments  more,  a long  line  of  crib  work 
stretches  over  the  slope  of  the  hill,  as  if  another  anaconda 
fold  had  been  twisted  around  the  rebels.  Then,  as,  for  a 
time,  the  ditches  deepen,  the  cribs  fill  up,  the  dirt  is 
packed  on  the  outer  side,  the  bushes  and  all  points  of  con- 
cealment are  cleared  from  the  front,  and  the  centre 
divisions  of  our  army  had  taken  a long  stride  toward  the 
rebel  works.  The  siege  guns  are  brought  up  and  placed 
in  commanding  positions.  A log  house  furnishes  the 
hewn  and  seasoned  timber  for  the  platforms,  and  the  plan- 
tation of  a Southern  lord  has  been  thus  speedily  trans- 
formed into  one  of  Uncle  Sam’s  strongholds,  where  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  float  proudly.  Thus  had  the  whole 
army  (under  the  immediate  charge  of  General  Grant,  the 
commander  in  the  field)  worked  itself  up  into  the  very 
teeth  of  the  rebel  works,  and  rested  there  on  Thursday 
night,  the  28th,  expecting  a general  engagement  at  any 
moment. 

“ Soon  after  daylight,  on  Friday  morning,  the  army 
was  startled  by  rapid  and  long-continued  explosions,  simi- 
lar to  musketry,  but  much  louder.  The  conviction  flashed 
across  my  mind  that  the  rebels  were  blowing  up  their 
loose  ammunition,  and  leaving.  The  dense  smoke  arising 
in  the  direction  of  Corinth  strengthened  this  belief,  and 
soon  the  whole  army  was  advancing  on  a grand  reconnois- 
sance.  The  distance  through  the  woods  was  short,  and  in 


124 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


a few  minutes  shouts  arose  from  the  rebel  lines,  which  told 
that  our  army  was  in  the  enemy’s  trenches.  Regiment 
after  regiment  pressed  on,  and,  passing  through  extensive 
camps  just  vacated,  soon  reached  Corinth,  and  found  half 
of  it  in  flames.  Beauregard  and  Bragg  had  left  the  after- 
noon before,  and  the  rear  guard  had  passed  out  of  the 
town  before  daylight,  leaving  enough  stragglers  to  commit 
many  acts  of  vandalism,  at  the  expense  of  private  prop- 
erty. They  burned  churches  and  other  public  buildings, 
private  goods,  stores,  and  dwellings,  and  choked  up  half 
the  wells  in  town.  In  the  camps  immediately  around  the 
town,  there  were  few  evidences  of  hasty  retreat ; but  on 
the  right  flank,  where  Price  and  Van  Dorn  were  en- 
camped, the  destruction  of  baggage  and  stores  was  very 
great,  showing  precipitate  flight.  Portions  of  our  army 
were  immediately  put  in  pursuit. 

“ It  seems  that  it  was  the  slow  and  careful  approach 
of  General  Halleck  which  caused  the  retreat.  They 
would  doubtless  have  remained,  had  we  attacked  their 
positions  without  first  securing  our  rear ; but  they  could 
not  stand  a siege.  Their  position  was  a most  commanding 
one,  and  well  protected.” 

General  Grant’s  troops,  under  the  brilliant  chieftain 
Sherman,  were  first  in  the  works.  It  had  been  conspicu- 
ous in  the  entire  and  triumphant  progress  from  Shiloh, 
sustaining  the  heaviest  blows,  and  bearing  aloft,  without 
wavering  or  failure,  with  a proud  and  immortal  heroism, 
the  banner  of  the  Republic. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


125 


Near  the  “noon  of  night,”  May  29th,  the  last  re- 
ceding columns  of  treason  disappear  in  the  darkness  from 
the  walls  of  Corinth.  Ten  days  before,  General  Grant 
had  urged  an  advance  upon  the  works,  sure  that  the 
Union  forces  could  “bag”  the  rebel  army.  After  the 
foe  had  fled,  General  Halleck  acknowledged  the  mis- 
take, and  assured  General  Grant  he  should,  thereafter, 
have  his  own  way.  The  work  of  besieging  it  began 
April  30th,  and  the  morning  sun  of  May  30th  shone  on 
the  deserted  fortress.  What  a change  in  a few  brief 
hours  has  passed  over  the  encampment ! The  day  before, 
you  might  have  seen,  in  all  the  shining  pageantry  of  war, 
among  the  tents  dotting  the  arena  of  stern  defence,  and 
under  Confederate  banners,  the  busy  host  of  rebeldom. 
Rows  of  cannon  and  mortars  grimly  lining  the  embank- 
ments ; shouts,  laughter  even,  and  dead  men  were  there ; 
now,  the  “ white  tents  have  disappeared,  the  heavy  foot- 
steps have  ceased  to  sound,  and  no  evidence,  save  the 
desolated,  hard-trodden  ground,  and  a few  tent  stakes, 
remain  to  tell  the  story.”  The  victorious  soldiers  rush 
over  the  ground,  searching  everywhere  for  relics  to  com- 
memorate the  grand  success  of  their  arms ; one  picking  up 
a broken  sword,  another  a gun,  and  still  another  a frag- 
ment of  a shell,  or  whatever  could  have  interest  as  a 
memento  of  the  struggle. 

The  mayor  of  the  little  and  fallen  city  immediately 
asked  protection  for  the  property  of  the  citizens ; and, 
with  prompt  obedience  ta  the  orders  of  the  commanding 


126 


LIFE  OF  GENEEAL  GRANT. 


officer,  guards  stood  at  every  door,  safely  keeping  the 
homes  of  their  enemies.  So  strangely  does  the  work  of 
demons  and  of  angels  blend  in  the  sulphurous  atmosphere 
of  warfare  ! 

But  look  beyond  the  silent  battlements  crowned  with 
Union  banners,  and  away  farther  than  you  can  discern, 
down  the  railway  toward  Mobile — why,  with  rapid  march- 
es, sweep  the  lines  of  our  heroes  in  saddle  ? Colonel 
Elliot’s  cavalry  are  on  the  wing,  to  reach  Booneville  in 
time  to  tear  up  the  track,  and  cut  off  the  enemy’s  retreat. 

( Desolation  ! desolation  ! ” was  the  exclamation  on 
many  lips,  as  the  troopers  dashed  through  the  once  fruit- 
ful fields.  They  suffered  for  food.  See  those  few  soli- 
tary, haggard  sheep  wandering  over  the  scarred  and 
desert-like  land.  ‘ Boys,  after  them  ! ” says  Colonel 
Elliot. 

An  odd  interlude  to  the  tragedy  of  war  is  that  chase 
after  the  gaunt  fugitives,  whose  masters  have  forsaken 
them.  Jokes  enliven  the  repast  of  the  hungry  men  over 
the  tough  and  juiceless  mutton,  taken  in  the  vast  slaugh- 
ter-field of  humanity — unlike  the  Divine  abundance,  and 
yet  “ without  money  and  without  price.” 

The  horsemen  destroyed  the  track,  burned  the  depot, 
a train  of  cars,  and  a large  quantity  of  arms,  and,  taking 
a different  route  back,  reached  Corinth  again  in  safety. 
The  rest  of  June  was  occupied  in  similar  raids,  till  the 
enemy’s  power  was  broken  in  that  region,  and  his  lines 
were  fifty  miles  from  Corinth. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


127 


July  17th,  General  Halleck  bade  farewell  to  the  troops 
of  the  Southwest,  and  went  to  Washington  in  the  high 
office  of  General-in-Chief  of  all  the  United  States  forces. 

The  departure  of  General  Halleck  was  followed  by  a 
new  order  of  things.  The  “Department  of  West  Ten- 
nessee ” was  created  for  General  Grant — larger  than  his 
previous  command.  Take  the  map,  and,  beginning  at 
Cairo,  glance  across  to  Donelson  and  Henry  on  the  Ten- 
nessee River,  and  up  its  current  to  Northern  Mississippi, 
and  then  to  Memphis,  of  which  possession  had  been  taken 
after  the  surrender  of  Corinth,  and  you  will  have  nearly 
the  boundaries  of  his  new  military  kingdom.  Memphis, 
you  notice,  is  on  the  “ Father  of  Waters,”  where  railroads 
meet,  and,  as  a “ a base  of  supplies,”  and  a point  of  diver- 
gence into  the  enemy’s  country,  was  of  great  importance. 
But  protected  there  by  our  arms,  were  traitors.  They 
trafficked  with  the  rebel  army  secretly,  and  assisted  the 
enemy  in  every  possible  way.  So  the  resolute  and  honor- 
able chief,  who  often  went  from  Corinth,  his  headquarters, 
to  Memphis,  began  to  issue  orders  forbidding  such  inter- 
course with  the  Confederate  troops.  His  course  illus- 
trated the  old  fable  of  the  farmer  and  the  boy  stealing  his 
apples  : the  rogue  cared  little  for  words  or  grass ; stones 
only  could  bring  him  down. 

The  first  order  required  the  word  passed  on  letters 
found  upon  persons  going  out,  from  the  pen  of  the  provost- 
marshal,  post-commander,  or  general  commanding ; and 
forbidding,  on  penalty  of  imprisonment  for  the  first 


128 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


offence,  any  person  to  carry  arms  or  ammunition  out  of, 
or  within  the  city  limits. 

But  the  unprincipled  traffic  went  on.  The  next  order 
— July  9 th,  eleven  days  later — revoked  all  passes,  unless 
the  holders  gave  the  oath  of  allegiance,  or  parole  of 
honor ; i.  e.,  became  loyal  by  their  most  sacred  pledge,  or, 
with  an  equally  binding  promise  to  conform  to  the  rules 
of  the  department,  were  permitted  to  be  at  large. 

The  artful,  treasonable  traders  were  active  still.  Then 
came  the  decisive  blow,  in  the  following  orders,  two  days 
after,  showing  the  rebels  what  sort  of  a man  they  had 
trifled  with  too  long  : 


District  of  West  Tennessee,  \ 
Office  Provost-Marshal  General,  >■ 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  July  10, 1S62.  ) 

The  constant  communication  between  the  so-called  Confederate 
army  and  their  friends  and  sympathizers  in  the  city  of  Memphis, 
despite  the  orders  heretofore  issued,  and  the  efforts  to  enforce  them, 
induced  the  issuing  of  the  following  order : 

The  families  now  residing  in  the  city  of  Memphis  of  the  follow- 
ing persons,  are  required  to  move  south  beyond  the  lines  within  five 
days  of  the  date  hereof  ; 

First.  All  persons  holding  commissions  in  the  so-called  Confed- 
erate army,  or  who  have  voluntarily  enlisted  in  said  army,  or  who 
accompany  and  are  connected  with  the  same. 

Second.  All  persons  holding  office  under  or  in  the  employ  of  the 
so  called  Confederate  Government. 

Third.  All  persons  holding  State,  county,  or  municipal  offices, 
who  claim  allegiance  to  said  so-called  Confederate  Government,  and 
who  have  abandoned  their  families  and  gone  South. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


129 


Safe  conduct  will  be  given  to  the  parties  hereby  required  to  leave, 
upon  application  to  the  Provost-Marshal  of  Memphis. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Grant. 

District  of  West  Tennessee, 

Office  of  the  Provost-Marshal  General, 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  July  11,  1SG2. 
******* 

In  order  that  innocent,  peaceable,  and  well-disposed  persons  may 
not  suffer  for  the  bad  conduct  of  the  guilty  parties  coming  within  the 
purview  of  Special  Order  No.  14,  dated  July  10,  1862,  they  can  be 
relieved  from  the  operation  of  said  order  No.  14,  by  signing  the  fol- 
lowing parole,  and  producing  to  the  Provost  Marshal  General,  or  the 
Provost-Marshal  of  Memphis,  satisfactory  guarantees  that  they  will 
keep  the  pledge  therein  made  : 

PAROLE. 

First.  I have  not,  since  the  occupation  of  the  city  of  Memphis 
by  the  Federal  army,  given  any  aid  to  the  so-called  Confederate 
army,  nor  given  or  sent  any  information  of  the  movements,  strength, 
or  position  of  the  Federal  army  to  any  one  connected  with  said  Con- 
federate army. 

Second.  I will  not,  during  the  occupancy  of  Memphis  by  the 
Federal  army  and  my  residing  therein,  oppose  or  conspire  against  the 
civil  or  military  authority  of  the  United  States,  and  that  I will  not 
give  aid,  comfort,  or  encouragement  to  the  so-called  Confederate 
army,  nor  to  any  person  cooperating  therewith. 

All  of  which  I state  and  pledge  upon  my  sacred  honor. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Grant. 

Wm.  S.  Hillyer,  Provost-Marslial  GeneraL 

And,  as  a warning  to  the  guerillas  who  were  destroy- 
ing cotton  and  plundering,  the  following  order  was  also 
issued  : 


9 


130 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Headquarters,  District  of  West  Tennessee,  i 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  July  3,  1862.  j 

The  system  of  guerilla  warfare  now  being  prosecuted  by  some 
troops  organized  under  authority  of  the  so-called  Southern  Confed- 
eracy, and  others  without  such  authority,  being  so  pernicious  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community  where  it  is  carried  on,  and  it  being  within 
the  power  of  the  community  to  suppress  this  system,  it  is  ordered 
that,  wherever  loss  is  sustained  by  the  Government,  collections  shall 
be  made,  by  seizure  of  a sufficient  amount  of  personal  property,  from 
persons  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  sympathizing  with  the  rebel- 
lion, to  remunerate  the  Government  for  all  loss  and  expense  of  the 
same. 

Persons  acting  as  guerillas  without  organization,  and  without  uni- 
form to  distinguish  them  from  private  citizens,  are  not  entitled  to  the 
treatment  of  prisoners  of  war  when  caught,  and  will  not  receive  such 
treatment. 

By  order  of  Major-General  U.  S.  Grant. 

John  A.  Rawlins,  A.  A.  G. 

The  disloyal  editors  and  speculators  in  conspiracy  with 
the  enemy  at  large,  took  their  turn,  as  will  appear  in  the 
annexed  spicy  correspondence.  It  is  paper  warfare,  in 
part,  but,  in  General  Grant’s  hands,  made  the  traitors 
wince,  and  act  like  honest  men  : 

Headquarters,  District  of  West  Tennessee,  \ 
Office  Provost-Marshal  General,  > 

Memfhis,  Tenn.,  July  1, 1862.  ) 

Messrs.  Wills,  Bingham  & Co.,  Proprietors  of  the  Memphis  Ava- 
lanche : 

You  will  suspend  the  further  publication  of  your  paper.  The 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


131 


spirit  with  which  it  is  conducted  is  regarded  as  both  incendiary  and 
treasonable,  and  its  issue  cannot  longer  be  tolerated. 

This  order  will  be  strictly  observed  from  the  time  of  its  reception. 

By  command  of  Major-General  U.  S.  Grant. 

Wm.  S.  Hillyeb,  Provost-Marshal  General. 

Memphis,  Julyl,  1862. 

The  Avalanche  can  continue  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  author  of 
the  obnoxious  article  under  the  caption  of  “ Mischief  Makers,”  and 
the  editorial  allusion  to  the  same. 

U.  S.  Grant,  Major-General. 

To  our  Patrons. — For  reasons  apparent  from  the  foregoing 
order,  I withdraw  from  the  editorial  management  of  The  Avalanche. 
Self-respect,  aud  the  spirit  of  true  journalism,  forbid  any  longer 
attempt  to  edit  a paper.  I approved  and  endorsed  the  articles  in 
question.  Prudence  forbids  my  saying  more,  and  duty  less,  to  the 
public.  Jeptha  Fowlkes. 

TJ.  S.  Military  Telegraph,  Corinth,  July  26,  1862. 

To  Brigadier-General  J.  T.  Quimby,  Columbus,  Ky. : 

General  : Examine  the  baggage  of  all  speculators  coming  South, 
and  when  they  have  specie,  turn  them  back.  If  medicine  and  other 
contraband  articles,  arrest  them,  and  confiscate  the  contraband  arti- 
cles. Jews  should  receive  special  attention. 

[Signed]  IJ.  S.  Grant,  Major-General. 

Trenton,  Tenn.,  July  29,  1862. 

General  : The  man  who  guided  the  rebels  to  the  bridge  that 
was  burned,  was  hung  to-day.  He  had  taken  the  oath.  The  houses 
of  four  others  who  aided  have  been  burned  to  the  ground. 

[Signed]  G.  M.  Dodge,  Brigadier-General. 


132 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


The  inflexibly  just  and  loyal  commander,  to  secure 
from  wanton  waste,  and  obtain  material  aid,  rented  the 
deserted  buildings  whose  owners  were  in  rebel  service, 
whether  private  residences  or  stores  and  manufactories, 
for  and  under  the  protection  of  the  Government. 

He  issued  an  order  in  regard  to  fugitive  slaves,  giving 
directions  for  tlieir  employment ; neither  permitting  them 
to  be  returned,  nor  enticed  from  the  plantations.  The 
only  fault  to  be  found  with  these  last  regulations,  was  one 
Avhich  God’s  providence  alone  could  cure,  by  prolonging 
the  war ; i.  e.,  dealing  carefully  and  tenderly  for  the  mas- 
ter, with  the  whole  question  of  his  rights  while  in  rebel- 
lion, and  thus  sustaining  the  system  of  oppression  which 
hatched  the  scorpion-egg  of  treason. 

General  Grant  also  published  an  order  to  enroll  the 
“runaways”  from  the  draft  in  the  States  to  which  they 
belonged,  seeking  a hiding  place  in  Southern  towns  within 
the  Union  lines.  There  was  very  soon  a thinning  of  the 
ranks  of  the  worthless  refugees. 

A specimen  of  a rebel  letter  will  show  you  how  bitter 
their  hate  was,  and  how  demoniac  their  conduct.  It  is 
addressed  to  General  Grant,  on  account  of  his  proclama- 
tion respecting  the  guerillas,  threatening  to  confiscate  rebel 
property  in  return  for  their  ravages  : 

Sinatoiua,  July  10,  1862. 

U.  S.  Grant: 

Sir  : We  have  seen  your  infamous  and  fiendish  proclamation.  It 
is  characteristic  of  your  infernal  policy.  * * * If  you  attempt 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


133 


to  carry  out  your  threat  against  the  property  of  citizens,  we  will 
make  you  rue  the  day  you  issued  your  dastardly  proclamation.  You 
call  us  guerillas,  which  you  know  is  false.  We  are  recognized  by  our 
Government ; and  it  was  us  who  attacked  your  wagons  at  Morning 
Sun.  We  have  twenty-three  men  of  yours,  and,  as  soon  as  you  carry 
out  your  threat  against  the  citizens  of  the  vicinity  of  Morning  Sun, 
your  Hessians  will  pay  for  it.  We  are  ready,  and  more  than  willing, 
to  raise  the  “ black  flag.”  There  are  two  thousand  partisans  who 
have  sworn  to  retaliate.  Henceforth  our  motto  shall  be,  Blood  for 
blood,  and  blood  for  property.  We  intend,  by  the  help  of  God,  to 
hang  on  the  outskirts  of  your  rabble,  like  lightning  around  the  edge 
of  a cloud.  Kespectfullv, 


Geo.  K.  Merritt. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


The  Position  of  our  Army — The  Grand  Programme — Armies  in  Motion — 
Bragg  tries  to  Deceive  Grant— The  Advance  toward  Iuka — The  Fight — 
The  Victory— The  Stampede — General  Grant’s  Words  of  Cheer— Des- 
patch from  the  President — A Curiosity. 


ERE  we  may  pause,  and  see  how  the  combatants 
stand.  The  Mississippi  is  dear  to  Memphis,  and 
at  the  mouth  ; for  Butler,  who  knew  so  well  how 
to  deal  with  rebels,  is  at  New  Orleans. 

The  forces  defeated  by  Halleck  and  Grant  had 
gone  to  Vicksburg,  Port  Hudson,  and  Baton  Rouge,  and 
other  points  on  the  Mississippi,  to  blockade  and  hold  that 
great  thoroughfare  of  trade  in  the  valley  of  the  "West. 

Let  us  unroll  the  map  again.  Although,  during  the 
summer  months,  there  was  a lull  in  the  wide  arena  of  the 
"Western  conflict,  neither  army  was  idle.  Major-General 
Buell’s  forces  were  east  of  Memphis,  not  far  from  Hunts- 
ville in  Alabama,  with  Chattanooga  for  his  coveted  prize. 
For  this,  he  left  Corinth  in  June.  Major-General  Curtis 
was  west  of  the  Mississippi,  at  Helena,  Arkansas.  Briga- 
dier-General Schofield  was  north  of  him,  in  Southwestern 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


135 


Missouri ; while  Major-General  Grant,  with  the  central 
army,  was  on  the  line  of  West  Tennessee  and  North  Mis- 
sissippi, between  Memphis  and  Iuka,  protecting  the  rail- 
roads south  from  Columbus,  our  only  channels  of  supply. 

The  mighty  sweep  of  these  combined  armies  was 
around  and  across  a territory  six  hundred  miles  in  width, 
from  Western  Arkansas  to  the  Cumberland  Gap,  and 
more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  the  other  direc- 
tion. From  this  area  the  enemy  had  been  recently 
driven.  The  foe,  greatly  reenforced  by  conscription,  while 
we  were  weakened  by  losses,  had  formed  magnificent  plans 
of  conquest.  The  grand  programme  was,  to  reoccupy  the 
lost  ground  back  to  Kentucky,  and  then  roll  their  tide  of 
invasion,  like  the  Goths  and  Huns  of  old,  over  the  bor- 
ders of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois.  Eaids  into  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania,  with  Indian  troubles  at  the  West,  were 
to  furnish  a most  auspicious  time  for  the  sublimely  daring 
advance  through  the  valley  of  the  West. 

General  Braxton  Bragg,  of  the  rebel  army,  opened 
the  gigantic  enterprise  finely.  Hastening  from  Tripoli, 
Miss.,  through  Alabama  and  Georgia,  he  reached  Chatta- 
nooga, by  nature  a stronghold,  ahead  of  Buell,  who  fell 
back  to  Nashville,  Tenn.  Another  hostile  column  had  got 
into  Cumberland  Gap,  and  looked  menacingly  toward  Cin- 
cinnati. Meanwhile,  the  President  had  wisely,  and  just  in 
season,  issued  another  call  for  troops.  Oh.  how  wildly  the 
great  Northwest  echoed  back  the  appeal ! Her  sons  went 
streaming  down  like  the  rivers,  in  living  tides,  toward  the 


136 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


seat  of  war.  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  were  soon  forti- 
fied. 

To  get  the  advantage  further,  Bragg  had  published  an 
order,  bearing  date  at  Sparta,  away  in  Alabama,  when  he 
was  safely  at  Chattanooga.  But  he  was  found,  and  Gen- 
eral Buell  sent  after  him  with  one  hundred  thousand  men. 

At  Perryville  a severe  battle  was  fought,  and  the 
enemy  routed.  Bragg  had  hoped  to  swing,  by  a flank 
movement,  around  Grant,  to  the  Ohio  River ; Corinth 
lying  nearly  in  a directly  westerly  line  from  Chattanooga. 
It  was  ascertained  that  Generals  Van  Dorn  and  Price 
were  advancing  toward  our  camp  at  Jacinto,  which  was  at 
once  removed,  to  prepare  for  the  greater  conflict  im- 
pending. 

September  18th,  soon  after  break  of  day,  in  a drench- 
ing rain,  and  through  mud,  the  uncomplaining  volunteers 
moved  toward  the  enemy Generals  Grant  and  Ord  ap- 
proaching Iuka  from  the  north,  and  General  Rosecrans 
from  the  south.  The  position  of  the  rebel  army  cut  off 
communication  between  Generals  Grant  and  Buell,  and  at 
any  cost  it  must  be  routed.  Price,  finding  that  the  Union 
lines  were  likely  to  close  around  him,  left  the  town,  and 
fell  on  Rosecrans  with  desperate  fury,  at  four  o’clock  p.  m. 
Till  the  sun  went  down,  darkened  with  the  “ sulphurous 
canopy,”  bullets  and  steel,  cannon  and  shell  did  their 
work  well.  Prom  the  long  ridge,  commanding  a large 
extent  of  the  country  around,  the  rebels  rained  down  de- 
struction, till  one  third  of  our  troops  were  killed  or 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


137 


wounded.  But  so  deadly  liad  been  our  fire,  that,  in  the 
night,  the  enemy  evacuated  Iuka,  and,  when  morning  lit 
up  the  gory  scene,  General  Rosecrans  marched  into  it  with 
flying  banners.  General  Grant,  who,  with  General  Ord, 
had  taken  the  northern  route  to  cut  off  Price’s  retreat,  but 
failed  because  he  escaped  toward  the  east,  soon  after  fol- 
lowed the  victorious  ranks  into  the  deserted  works. 

A rebel  letter,  written  after  the  victory,  contains  a 
glimpse  of  the  fight  from  his  side  : 

“"We  held  peaceable  possession  of  Iuka  for  one  day, 
and,  on  the  next,  were  alarmed  by  the  booming  of  can- 
non, and  were  called  out  to  spend  the  evening  in  battle 
array  in  the  woods.  On  the  evening  of  the  19th,  when 
we  supposed  we  were  going  back  to  camp  to  rest  awhile, 
the  sharp  crack  of  musketry  on  the  right  of  our  former 
lines  told  us  that  the  enemy  was  much  nearer  than  we 
imagined.  In  fact,  they  had  almost  penetrated  the  town 
itself.  How  on  earth,  with  the  woods  full  of  our  cavalry, 
they  could  have  approached  so  near  our  lines,  is  a mys- 
tery. They  had  planted  a battery  sufficiently  near  to  shell 
General  Price’s  headquarters,  and  were  cracking  away  at 
the  Third  Brigade,  when  the  Fourth  came  up  at  double 
quick,  and  then,  for  two  horns  and  fifteen  minutes,  was 
kept  up  the  most  terrific  fire  of  musketry  that  ever  dinned 
my  ears.  There  was  one  continuous  roar  of  small  arms, 
while  grape  and  canister  howled  in  fearful  concert  above 
our  heads  and  through  our  ranks.  General  Little  was 
shot  dead  early  in  the  action.  * * * It  was  a terrible 


138 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


struggle,  and  we  lost  heavily.  All  night  could  he  heard 
the  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying,  forming  a sequel  of 
horror  and  agony  to  the  deadly  struggle,  over  which  night 
had  kindly  thrown  its  mantle.  Saddest  of  all,  our  dead 
were  left  unburied,  and  many  of  the  wounded  on  the  bat- 
tle field,  to  be  taken  in  charge  by  the  enemy.” 

General  Grant  was  proud  of  the  brave  boys  who  had 
driven  out  eighteen  thousand  rebels,  and  taken  possession 
of  their  quarters,  and  said  to  them : 

“ The  General  commanding  takes  great  pleasure  in 
congratulating  the  two  wings  of  the  army,  commanded 
respectively  by  Major-General  Ord  and  Major-General 
Eosecrans,  upon  the  energy,  alacrity,  and  bravery  dis- 
played by  them.  * * * And,  while  congratulating 

the  noble  living,  it  is  meet  to  offer  our  condolence  to  the 
friends  of  the  heroic  dead,  who  offered  their  lives  a sacri- 
fice in  defence  of  constitutional  liberty,  and  in  their  fall 
rendered  memorable  the  field  of  Iuka.” 

But  this  terrible  “ whipping  ” did  not  stop  long  the 
advance  of  Bragg  toward  the  Ohio  Eiver — the  goal  of 
his  hopes  and  ambition,  as  before  stated,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  campaign. 

To  command  the  region  farther  northward,  the  direc- 
tion the  enemy  were  going,  General  Grant  took  up  his 
headquarters  at  Jackson,  about  forty  miles  northwest  of 
Corinth.  The  rebels  that  fled  from  Iuka,  by  the  skilful 
management  of  Price,  had  succeeded  in  reaching  a point 
in  Tippah  County,  Miss.,  where  Generals  Yan  Dorn  and 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


139 


Lovell  could  join  him.  So  here  ve  have  united  all  the 
Confederate  forces  in  Northern  Mississippi ; and  by  Octo- 
ber 1st  the  entire  army  was  advancing  toward  Corinth, 
resolved,  by  taking  it,  to  cut  the  Union  lines,  and  compel 
us  to  retreat.  A diagram  will  show  you  nearly  the 
position : 

Jackson. 


* 


General  Grant  was  at  Jackson  ; General  Eosecrans  at 
Corinth ; General  Ord  at  Bolivar ; and  General  Hurlbut 
near  Pocahontas,  where  the  main  body  of  the  rebel  army 
lay,  ready  to  spring  upon  either  of  the  Union  positions 
given.  The  enemy  had  only  the  southern  line  open,  not 
far  from  which  was  the  Hatchie  Eiver. 

General  Grant,  who  had  been  wide  awake,  and,  by 
sending  out  scouts  in  every  direction,  had  learned  the 
enemy’s  movements,  was  master  of  the  situation.  Of 
the  railways  forming  the  sides  of  the  triangle  at  whose 
apex  he  was  intrenched,  the  rebels  had  taken  pos- 
session of  the  track  between  Corinth  and  Jackson,  inter- 
rupting direct  intercourse  between  the  towns.  Still  other 


140 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


lines  were  clear,  and  the  telegraph  working,  ready  to  sum- 
mon the  troops  to  the  position  assailed. 

October  2d,  skirmishing  began  before  Corinth.  Briga- 
dier-Generals Hamilton,  McKean,  Davies,  and  Stanley, 
were  within  its  walls  with  Rosencrans. 

The  next  day,  about  ten  o’clock,  the  battle  opened  in 
earnest.  General  Grant,  with  his  eye  over  the  triangular 
field,  was  directing  the  whole  machinery  of  the  opening 
struggle.  General  McPherson,  at  Jackson,  'was  ordered 
to  join,  with  a brigade,  General  Rosecrans ; while  Gen- 
eral Hurlbut,  with  other  forces,  was  marching  to  cut  off 
retreat  by  way  of  Pocahontas. 

Noon  came,  and  thunder,  smoke,  hissing  shot,  scream- 
ing shell,  yelling  combatants,  and  the  shouts  of  command, 
were  the  signs  of  the  terrible  strife. 

The  sun  sinks  toward  the  west,  flinging  his  golden 
beams  over  the  rich  autumnal  landscape,  and  on  the  surg- 
ing columns  of  the  foemen,  on  both  sides  equally  unyield- 
ing. For  many  miles  the  heavy  roar  of  the  artillery 
swells  with  strange  distinctness,  as  the  twilight  stillness 
steals  upon  the  bosom  of  nature.  Then,  darkness  hang"  a 
veil  between  the  fiery  eyes  of  the  grappling  brethren  of  a 
common  heritage,  and  they  relax  the  bloody  grasp,  and  lie 
down  in  weariness  on  their  arms  to  sleep. 

The  next  morning’s  light  kindles  upon  the  uprisen 
hosts  among  the  dead  and  wounded,  in  battle  array. 
Back  and  forth  the  swaying  masses  of  armed  men  move 
in  the  darkened  atmosphere,  till  noon.  Then  the  rebel 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


141 


ranks  fall  back ; the  die  is  cast ; now,  in  full  retreat,  they 
rush  for  the  Hatchie  River. 

From  the  very  streets  into  which  some  had  forced 
their  way,  and  from  the  grounds  without,  strewn  with  the 
slain  and  wounded,  they  are  chased  by  General  Rose- 
crans  to  the  woods,  broken  and  routed,  the  fragments  of 
a just  now  confident  and  heroic  army,  leaving  nearly  a 
thousand  prisoners  behind,  besides  the  wounded.  He  cap- 
tures also  six  hundred  stand  of  arms.  Our  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  is  about  eight  hundred ; while 
theirs  is  greater,  owing  to  the  advantage  our  troops  had  in 
fighting  behind  intrenchments. 

O O 

While  Rosecrans  pushed  the  flying  foe  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Hatchie  River,  Generals  Hurlbut  and  Ord,  who,  as 
before  mentioned,  had  gone  to  intercept  the  retreating 
troops,  along  narrow  roads,  through  swamps,  and  over 
rocky  ridges,  crossed  their  path  on  the  banks  of  the 
stream. 

A furious  conflict  followed  for  several  hours  on  the 
5th.  Hothing  could  resist  the  onset,  in  which  General 
Ord  was  wounded,  and  left  the  command  to  General  Hurl- 
hut  ; and  away  the  beaten  rebels  went,  like  a flock  of  terri- 
fied sheep,  over  the  river,  into  the  wooded  heights  beyond. 

General  Grant,  in  closing  his  despatch  communicating 
the  success,  says : 

I have  strained  everything  to  take  into  the  fight  an 
adequate  force , and  to  get  them  to  the  right  place." 

liis  military  genius  triumphed  in  the  high  endeavor. 


142 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Corinth  was  lost  to  the  cause  of  treason,  and  stood,  the 
great  war-clasp,  holding  unbroken  the  grand  line  of  the 
Union  army  between  the  traitors  and  the  Ohio  River. 
Peace  was  restored  again  to  Western  Tennessee. 

Our  sagacious,  unpretending  hero,  possessing  pre- 
eminently what  is  termed  “ pluck,”  relieved  his  full  heart 
by  an  address  to  his  troops,  in  which  are  these  words : 

“ It  is  with  heartfelt  gratitude  the  General  Command- 
ing congratulates  the  armies  of  the  West  for  another 
great  victory  won  by  them  on  the  3d,  4th,  and  5th  in- 
stants, over  the  combined  armies  of  Van  Dorn,  Price,  and 
Lovell. 

“ The  enemy  chose  his  own  time  and  place  of  attack, 
and  knowing  the  troops  of  the  West  as  he  does,  and  with 
great  facilities  for  knowing  their  numbers,  never  would 
have  made  the  attempt  except  with  a superior  force  nu- 
merically. But  for  the  undaunted  bravery  of  officers  and 
soldiers,  who  have  yet  to  learn  defeat,  the  efforts  of  the 
enemy  must  have  proven  successful. 

“ As  in  all  great  battles,  so  in  this,  it  becomes  our  fate 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  many  brave  and  faithful  officers  and 
soldiers,  who  have  given  up  their  lives  as  a sacrifice  for  a 
great  principle.  The  nation  mourns  for  them.” 

No  sooner  had  the  good  news  reached  Washington, 
than  the  President  sent  over  the  wires  the  following 
message  : 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


143 


Washington,  D.  C.,  October  8,  1862. 

Major-General  Grant  : 

I congratulate  you  and  all  concerned  in  your  recent  battles  and 
victories.  How  does  it  all  sum  up  ? I especially  regret  the  death  of 
General  Hackleman,  and  am  very  anxious  to  know  the  condition  of 
General  Oglesby,  who  is  an  intimate  personal  friend. 

A.  Lincoln. 

This  despatch  was  followed  by  another,  which  will  be 
a curious  relic  in  the  future  archives  of  the  civil  war,  and 
of  the  country.  If  you  live,  my  young  reader,  to  mature 
manhood,  you  will  hear  it  referred  to  as  such.  Up  to  the 
date  of  it,  and  afterward,  the  Government,  and  the  people 
generally,  supposed  we  were  fighting  to  get  the  States 
back  just  as  they  were  before  the  conflict — slavery  and 
all.  But  God  had  determined  it  should  not  le  so.  Here 
is  the  message  : 


Executive  Mansion,  Washington,  Oct.  21,  1862. 
Major-General  Grant,  Governor  Johnson,  and  all  having  Military, 
Naval,  and  Civil  Authority  under  the  United  States  within  the 
State  of  Tennessee : 

x 

The  bearer  of  this,  Thomas  E.  Smith,  a citizen  of  Tennessee,  goes 
to  that  State,  seeking  to  have  such  of  the  people  thereof  as  desire  to 
avoid  the  unsatisfactory  prospect  before  them,  and  to  have  peace 
again  upon  the  old  terms  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
to  manifest  such  desire  by  elections  of  members  to  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  particidarly,  and  perhaps  a Legislature,  State  offi- 
cers, and  a United  States  senator  friendly  to  their  object.  I shall  be 
glad  for  you  and  each  of  you  to  aid  him,  and  all  others  acting  for 
this  object,  as  much  as  possible.  * * * * of  course,  the  men 


144 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


elected  should  be  gentlemen  of  character,  willing  to  swear  support  to 
the  Constitution  as  of  old , and  known  to  be  above  reasonable  suspi- 
cion of  duplicity. 

Yours,  very  respectfully,  A.  Lincoln. 

Even  children  smile  already  at  the  talk  then,  of 
u peace  again  upon  the  old  terms  under  the  Constitution 
The  good,  honest  President  had  much  to  learn  of  the  true 
character  of  the  war,  and  the  will  of  the  King  of  kings  in 
regard  to  the  struggle  then  scarcely  begun,  in  its  connec- 
tion with  slavery,  the  bitter  cause  of  the  war. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A larger  Field,  and  "bolder  Plans— Getting  Ready— Skirmishes— Cotton- 
Negroes — Jews— Speculators — Grant’s  Sense  of  Honor — Vicksburg  and 
the  Mississippi— Farragut’s  Fleet— The  Bombardment— Failure— A 
■worthless  Canal— The  Noble  Logan— Holly  Springs  Surrenders  to  the 
Rebels— Amusing  Scenes. 


OW  steady  the  progress  of  our  hero  in  military 
fame  ! Each  success  has  opened  the  field  for  a 
greater  one.  Cairo,  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson, 
Shiloh,  Corinth,  and  now  “ On  to  Vicksburg  ! ” 
each  attended  with  a still  wider  theatre  of  opera- 
tions, are  the  marvellous  strides  of  the  conqueror,  during 
a period  of  less  than  a year,  in  the  march  of  destiny.  A 
new  and  broader  department,  and  more  daring  designs, 
open  before  him.  He  took  command  of  the  Department 
of  Tennessee,  which  extended  into  Mississippi  as  far  as 
Vicksburg,  October  25th,  1862.  He  mapped  it  out  in  the 
following  order  : 

The  First  Division  will  constitute  the  “ District  of 
Memphis,”  Major-General  W.  T.  Sherman  commanding ; 
the  Second  Division,  the  “District  of  Jackson,”  com- 

10 


146  LIFE  OF  GENERAL_  GRANT. 

mantled  by  Major-General  S.  A.  Ilurlbut;  tbe  Third 
Division,  the  “District  of  Corinth,”  Brigadier-General  C. 
S.  Hamilton  commanding  ; the  Fourth  Division,  the  “ Dis- 
trict of  Columbus,”  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  T. 
A.  Davies. 

In  every  noble  and  difficult  achievement  for  men  or 
boys,  there  is  first  the  hard,  quiet  work  of  preparation, 
to  do.  From  the  very  last  of  October  till  late  in  Novem- 
ber, General  Grant  had  just  this  less  exciting  and  un- 
appreciated toil,  before  attempting  the  gigantic  enterprise 
of  taking  Vicksburg.  The  vast  machinery  of  a moving 
army — wagons,  tents,  stores,  hospital  shelter — he  deter- 
mined to  reduce  to  the  smallest  possible  amount.  Even 
the  officers’  baggage  must  be  limited  to  “ blankets,  one 
small  valise  or  carpet  bag,  and  a moderate  mess  kit,”  or 
eating  apparatus. 

The  last  of  October,  Colonel  Lee,  of  General  Grant’s 
army,  with  a body  of  cavalry,  dashed  down  to  Ripley, 
Miss.,  took  it,  held  it  for  a day,  captured  prisoners,  and 
returned  to  Grand  Junction.  This  town  is  east  of  La 
Grange,  between  Corinth  and  Memphis ; to  which,  two 
days  later,  the  Commanding  General  removed  his  head- 
quarters. The  movement  deceived  the  rebels,  who  went 
to  fortifying  near  Ripley,  because  Lee  had  been  there. 

This  cavalry  officer  made  another  grand  reconnois- 
sance  with  two  divisions  of  infantry  and  artillery,  and 
part  of  a cavalry  division,  toward  Hudsonville.  He  met 
the  rebels,  fought,  conquered,  and,  besides  killing  sixteen, 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


147 


took  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  prisoners,  -with  horses 
and  arms.  General  Grant  was  highly  gratified,  and  re- 
commended Colonel  Lee  earnestly  for  promotion.  He 
became,  afterward,  brigadier-general. 

By  the  expedition,  he  found  that  General  Lovell  was 
at  Holly  Springs ; Price,  with  twelve  thousand  men, 
seven  miles  below  ; about  twenty  miles  farther  toward  the 
Gulf,  thirteen  thousand  more  were  encamped. 

General  Grant  was  a just  and  gentlemanly  officer. 
These  qualities  were  visible  in  all  his  conduct.  He  won 
from  friends  and  foes  the  homage  of  true  virtue — of  honor 
and  integrity  above  a mean  military  ambition,  or  mer- 
cenary use  of  office  and  its  opportunities  to  get.  money. 

No  reasonable  complaint  was  disregarded,  though  it 
came  from  rebels.  "When  the  old  farmers  made  bitter 
charges  against  the  reconnoitring  parties,  because  their 
fields,  larders,  and  barns  were  pillaged,  he  ordered  strict 
watchfulness  by  officers,  and  the  arrest  of  offenders. 

He  overlooked  no  interest.  “ King  Cotton  ” had  be- 
come lawful  plunder.  If  seized  south  of  Jackson,  he  was 
directed  to  be  sent  there ; if  seized  north,  to  Columbus, 
Ky.,  in  care  of  the  quartermasters.  Not  only  so,  but  the 
dark-skinned  laborers,  by  whose  unrequited  toil  he  flour- 
ished, and  who  had  fled  from  their  masters  to  our  lines, 
were  to  be  cared  for ; and  General  Grant  was  the  very 
man  to  do  it.  He  established  a camp  at  Grand  Junction, 
under  Chaplain  Eaton,  where  food,  raiment,  medical  at- 
tendance, and  work  in  “ picking,  ginning,  and  baling  all 
cotton  outstanding  in  the  fields,”  was  to  be  provided. 


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LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


He  tried  an  original  and  pretty  sure  way  of  breaking 
up  stealing  in  a regiment,  whose  robberies  of  stores,  and 
of  each  other,  amounted  to  one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
forty-two  dollars.  The  sum  was  charged  to  the  regiment , 
and  the  negligent  officers  dismissed. 

All  kinds  of  speculation  were  going  on.  The  Jews, 
that  singular,  scattered,  yet  united  people,  despised,  but 
found  everywhere,  and  always  having  plenty  of  money, 
were  the  hardest  and  most  troublesome  hangers-on  of  the 
army.  General  Grant’s  ire  was  a little  roused  at  last,  as 
the  tone  of  the  annexed  order  shows  : 

Headquarters,  Department  op  the  Tennessee,  > 
Oxford,  Miss.,  December  17,  1S62.  i 

The  Jews,  as  a class,  violating  every  regulation  of  trade  estab- 
lished by  the  Treasury  Department,  also  department  orders,  are 
hereby  expelled  from  the  department  within  twenty-four  hours  from 
the  receipt  of  this  order  by  post  commanders.  They  will  see  that  all 
this  class  of  people  are  furnished  with  passes  and  required  to  leave  ; 
and  any  one  returning  after  such  notification  will  be  arrested  and 
held  in  confinement  until  an  opportunity  occurs  of  sending  them  out 
as  prisoners,  unless  furnished  with  permits  from  these  headquarters. 
No  passes  will  be  given  these  people  to  visit  headquarters  for  the  pur 
pose  of  making  perspnal  application  for  trade  permits. 

By  order  of  Major-General  Grant. 

At  the  same  time,  to  avoid  unnecessary  suffering  to 
the  conquered  inhabitants,  he  was  inclined  to  allow  trade 
in  articles  of  food  and  clothing,  under  proper  regulations, 
with  those  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance.  But  advan- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


149 


tage  was  taken  even  of  this  kind  design.  The  following 
conversation,  if  not  entirely  literal,  is  a fair  illustration  of 
what  transpired  at  headquarters  : 

“ General,  I would  like  to  open  trade  according  to 
your  order.” 

“ Have  you  taken  the  oath  required  ? ” 

“ I have.” 

“ What  do  you  propose  to  do  ? ” 

“ That,  with  the  authority  to  trade,  you  name  reliable 
Union  men  through  whom  to  carry  on  the  business.” 

“ I shall  do  no  such  thing.  If  I did,  it  would  appear, 
in  less  than  a week,  that  I was  partner  with  every  one  of 
the  persons  trading  under  my  authority.” 

It  seems  incredible,  that  commanders  and  provost- 
marshals  should  be  continually  plied  by  speculators  in  trea- 
son not  only,  but  in  the  very  wants  and  sufferings  of  our 
own  soldiers.  It  is  well  that  we  have  heroes  like  Grant, 
who  disdain  a bribe,  and  whose  loyalty  rings  out  clear  as 
a bell,  when  struck  by  tire  leprous  hand  of  a traitor,  no 
less  than  when  its  metal  is  tried  with  the  heaviest  blows 
of  mortal  combat. 

All  things  were  now  ready  for  an  advance  into  Missis- 
sippi. The  majestic  river  of  the  same  name  sweeps  along 
a channel  three  thousand  miles  in  length,  from  the  beauti- 
ful Lake  Itasca.  Its  name  is  from  the  Ojibway  Indian 
dialect,  and  means  “ Father  of  W aters.”  It  is  of  priceless 
importance  to  the  country,  not  alone  because  it  is  the 
broad  highway  of  navigation,  but  on  account  of  its  tribu- 


150 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


taries,  spreading  like  a grand  network  of  water  paths  for 
the  ceaseless  march  of  commerce  over  the  “ empire  of  the 
W est.”  The  magnificent  channel  receiving  them  all  had 
been  blockaded  at  various  points,  and  opened  again  by  the 
gunboats,  whose  ponderous  hail  of  shot  and  bombshell  was 
unendurable  by  the  garrisons. 

In  January,  1861,  the  governor  of  Mississippi  com- 
menced the  fortifications  of  Vicksburg — by  natural  position, 
with  high  bluffs,  a place  of  remarkable  strength  for  this 
purpose.  Profiting  by  the  loss  of  Island  No.  10,  and  the 
forts  above  Memphis,  no  engineering  skill  and  expense  were 
spared  to  make  it  impregnable.  Fortress  was  built  within 
fortress ; rows  of  heavy  guns  rose  one  over  the  other  in 
the  cliffs,  till  the  stronghold  defied  ironclads  from  the 
river,  and  armies  from  the  land.  Next  to  Corinth,  a rail- 
road and  general  centre  of  the  conflict  in  the  field,  Vicks, 
burg  was  the  object  of  interest  to  both  armies.  During 
the  summer  before,  the  splendid  fleet  of  Farragut,  which 
steamed  by  the  forts  guarding  New  Orleans,  in  a perfect 
blaze  of  the  hottest  cannonading,  arrived  before  Vicks- 
burg. 

June  27th,  having  reduced  Memphis,  the  bombard- 
ment began.  For  more  than  four  long  weeks  the  awful 
storm  beat,  with  occasional  interludes,  upon  the  walls  in 
vain.  Low  water  then  compelled  the  fleet  to  drop  down 
to  New  Orleans.  Meanwhile,  the  ram  Arkansas,  built  up 
the  Yazoo,  and  run  down  to  the  front  of  Vicksburg  to 
make  it  more  formidable,  had  been  destroyed  by  our 
“Essex”  and  “Queen  of  the  "West.” 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


151 


So  far,  no  impression  lias  been  made  on  the  bristling 
giant  guarding  the  miglitj  current  of  life  to  the  nation. 
A new  idea  is  started.  At  Vicksburg,  you  hare  noticed, 
the  Mississippi  make's  a sharp  bend,  on  whose  outer  or 
eastern  curve  the  city  stands.  Now  for  a canal  across  the 
bend,  and  lead  the  river  away  from  the  defiant  Sebastopol, 
making  it,  by  isolation,  powerless  to  hinder  the  navigation. 
The  plan  looks  well;  and  July  22d,  while  General  Grant 
was  at  Memphis,  the  canal  was  finished. 

It  proved  to  be  a failure.  The  wrong  spot  had  been 
chosen,  and  the  waters  of  the  river  were  too  low  to  flow 
through  the  channel.  The  entire  siege  was  raised,  and  a 
shout  of  exultation  went  up  from  the  fortress  as  ships  and 
men  departed. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  Vicksburg,  when  General 
Grant  fixed  his  eye  upon  the  prize.  The  brave,  Christian 
General  Logan,  who  said  of  the  war,  although  relatives 
opposed  it,  that  he  would  not  return  to  his  home  till  the 
rebellion  was  crushed,  and  also  declared  in  the  National 
Capitol,  that,  if  not  otherwise  done,  “ the  men  of  the 
Northwest,  were  they  allowed  to,  would  hew  their  way  to 
the  Gulf,”  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The  West- 
ern “ boys  ” were  ready  to  carry  out  the  noble  assurance 
of  Logan.  Additional  troops  were  ordered  to  General 
Grant’s  army ; and  in  all  directions,  bodies  of  cavalry 
were  searching  for  the  enemy.  The  Commanding  General 
moved  along  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad  from  his 
headquarters  at  Grand  Junction,  southward. 


152 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


All  day  Saturday  and  Sunday,  November  29th  and 
30th,  the  troops  poured  through  the  charming  streets,  lined 
with  foliage,  of  Holly  Springs,  until  its  six  thousand  in- 
habitants “ began  to  think  the  entire  North  was  emptying 
itself  through  them.” 

About  the  middle  of  December,  General  Grant’s  head- 
quarters were  at  Oxford,  several  miles  beyond. 

On  the  20th  occurred  a sad  and  memorable  affair  to 
delay  his  onward  march.  Although  he  had  taken  every 
precaution  against  surprise,  and  displayed  the  highest  gen- 
eralship in  the  management  of  the  columns  covering  many 
miles  of  the  enemy’s  country,  the  rebels  made  a dash  aG 
Holly  Springs  in  his  rear.  He  expected  it,  telegraphed 
Colonel  Murphy,  in  command,  that  they  were  after  him, 
and  that  reenforcements  were  on  the  way,  although  he 
was  strong  enough  to  defend  the  place.  The  troops  from 
Grant  were  delayed,  and  on  came  the  rebel  cavalry,  just 
as  the  morning  beams  fell  on  the  quiet  town.  Two  rail- 
road trains,  one  loaded  with  cotton,  were  soon  in  a blaze. 
Then  the  work  of  pillage  and  burning  was  the  order  of 
the  day. 

Colonel  Murphy  was  a coward,  and  made  almost  no 
resistance.  The  troops  fought  without  a leader  awhile, 
but  in  vain.  Up  and  down  the  streets  the  raiders  went. 
People  in  their  night  clothes  rushed  out  of  the  houses. 
One  man,  whose  boots  had  been  carried  off,  in  his  fright 
put  on  only  his  coat  containing  his  money,  drawers,  stock- 
ings, and  spurs , went  to  the  stable,  took  his  horse,  and 
rode  away. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


153 


Another  cotton  speculator  from  Ohio  woke  up  his  com- 
panion, and  exclaimed  : “ Get  up  ; the  town  is  full  of 
secesh  ! ” Lough  jumped  up,  took  a single  glance,  and 
replied,  excitedly  : “ King,  we’re  gobbled,  by  Judas  ! ” 
King  declared  he  never  heard  him  swear  before  or  since. 

Not  long  after,  a member  of  Van  Dorn’s  staff,  who 
was  dealing  with  the  cotton  buyers,  came  to  King. 

“ Where  do  you  live  ? ” 

“ In  Newark,  Ohio,  sir.” 

“ Are  you  connected  with  the  army  ? ” 

“No,  sir.” 

“ What  are  you  doing  here,  sir  ? ” 

Here  King  tried  to  evade  the  question. 

“ Are  you  not  a cotton  buyer,  sir  ? ” 

“ Yes,  sir  (ahem)  ; have  invested  all  my  spare  money 
in  cotton,  and  to-day  it  has  gone  up  the  spout ! ” (That  is 
to  say,  lost  by  the  raid.) 

The  truth  is,  King  had  his  money  secreted,  excepting 
seventy  dollars  in  greenbacks,  and  a gold  dollar.  The 
officer,  returning  the  wallet,  said  : 

“ That  little  button  is  worth  all  the  balance.” 

A Richmond  paper  contained  the  following  description  : 

“ The  breaking  streaks  of  daylight  showed  the  Yan- 
kee tents  with  their  undisturbed  slumbers.  A charge  was 
ordered  upon  them.  To  paraphrase  ‘ Belgium’s  ’ picture  : 

‘ Ah,  then  and  there  was  hurrying  to  and  fro, 

And  running  in  hot  haste, 

And  cheeks  all  pale  and  blanched  with  woe, 

Exhibiting  Yankee  cowardice.’  ” 


154 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


The  last  allusion  was  too  true.  General  Grant  was 
indignant  when  the  news  reached  him,  and  issued  an 
order  expressing  his  deep  mortification  ; which,  soon  after, 
was  followed  by  another,  dismissing  Colonel  Murphy  from 
the  service. 

General  Grant  had  to  fall  back  to  Holly  Springs,  get 
fresh  supplies  in  place  of  those  destroyed,  and  move  again 
onward. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


The  Grand  Plan  Deranged— Sherman’s  Flotilla — His  Assault  on  Vicksburg 
—Defeat — Fatal  Ambition— Disloyalty — President’s  Proclamation  of 
Freedom  and  General  Grant — Vicksburg  again— Canals  around  the  City 
a Failure — The  Copperhead  and  the  Bush. 


OW  much  evil  may  result  from  a single  blunder, 
or,  what  is  far  worse,  a neglect  of  duty  ! A 
lad,  several  years  ago,  by  a wilfully  careless  dis. 
regard  of  his  mother’s  counsels,  set  fire  to  the 
mansion,  and  consumed  everything  but  the  fam- 
ily with  it. 

The  cowardly  conduct  of  the  colonel  at  Holly  Springs 
was  not  only  followed  by  pillage  and  burning  there,  but 
interfered  with  General  Grant’s  whole  plan  respecting 
Vicksburg. 

General  Sherman,  a gallant  officer  at  Memphis,  was 
intrusted  with  a grand  expedition  down  the  river,  to  co- 
operate with  the  former  in  the  bold  attempt  to  get  that 
key  of  the  Mississippi,  which  would  open  its  waters  to  the 
impatient  West. 

December  20th,  his  magnificent  flotilla  of  one  hundred 


156 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


and  twenty-seven  steamers,  besides  gunboats,  moved  down 
the  Mississippi — a sight  you,  my  reader,  would  like  to 
have  witnessed.  With  streamers  flying  and  bands  play- 
ing, for  miles  the  Father  of  W aters  presented  a rare  and 
stirring  scene. 

General  Sherman  did  not  know  of  General  Grant’s 
detention  at  Holly  Springs.  December  27th  he  arrived 
at  Johnson’s  Landing,  near  the  mouth  of  Yazoo  River. 
He  immediately  prepared  to  assault  Vicksburg  from  the 
north. 

Sunday,  the  27th,  the  engagement  became  general. 
There  stood  Sherman’s  “Right  Wing  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,”  amid  the  sloughs,  bayous,  and  lagoons  of  the 
swampy  ground  between  the  hills  and  the  city ; while  the 
enemy,  reenforced  by  troops  which  fled  before  General 
Grant,  rained  death  on  their  “rank  and  file,”  and  the 
sharpshooters  in  the  woods  picked  off  the  officers. 

Over  ditches  in  which  the  horses  mired  and  were  left, 
across  bloody  rifle  pits,  through  dense  woods,  and  over 
heaps  of  fallen  timber,  the  columns  struggled,  to  the  sound 
ringing  above  all  the  tumult,  “ Forward  ! ” It  was  all  in 
vain.  General  Sherman  was  compelled  to  retire,  and  re- 
embark his  troops.  In  the  affair,  he  did  not  wait  for 
General  Grant,  excusing  himself  by  saying,  in  his  order 
after  the  battle  : “We  were  on  time  ; unforeseen  contin- 
gencies must  have  delayed  others.’’ 

The  costly  and  fruitless  assault  looks  like  the  adven- 
turous, ambitious  effort  to  do  the  work  and  win  the  laurels 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


157 


alone.  If  so,  how  unlike  the  patient  leader  of  the  ad- 
vancing host ! 

After  hostilities  had  ceased,  and  the  slain  and  wounded 
were  borne  away  under  a flag  of  truce,  the  pickets  had 
the  following  talk : 

“ How  far  is  it  to  Vicksburg  ? ” 

Rebel  picket.  “ So  far  you’ll  never  git  thar.” 

Federal  picket.  “ How  many  men  have  you  got  ? ” 

Rebel  picket.  “ Enough  to  clean  you  out.’* 

Then  another  rebel,  who  seemed  to  be  the  stump 
speaker  of  the  squad,  with  a flourish,  added  : 

“ Banks  has  been  whipped  out  at  Port  Hudson,  Mem- 
phis has  been  retaken,  and  you  Yankees  will  not  take 
Vicksburg  till  hell  freezes  over.” 

And  so  the  conversation  went  on  during  the  four 
hours  of  truce.  The  profane  assertion  of  the  rebel  was 
destined  to  be  refuted  in  the  heat  of  the  next  midsummer. 

Meanwhile,  General  Grant,  having  detected  disloyalty 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  he  immedi- 
ately put  the  regiment  under  arrest,  having  their  arms  taken 
away.  A court  of  inquiry  exonerated  the  troops,  except- 
ing the  lieutenant-colonel  and  several  subordinate  officers, 
and  restored  them  to  their  place,  “ where  the  Command- 
ing General  hoped  to  find  them  among  the  pure  and  patri- 
otic, in  their  country’s  defence.” 

Soon  after,  General  Grant’s  headquarters  again  were 
removed  to  Memphis,  Tenn. 

January  1st,  1863  ! Most  memorable  New-Year’s 


158 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


day  1 The  President’s  Proclamation  of  Emancipation 
went,  during  all  its  winter  hours,  along  the  network  of 
telegraph  wires  stretching  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific.  Strong  men  wept,  others  shouted,  others  still 
could  only  pray  or  sing.  The  chains  of  millions  of  slaves 
had  virtually  fallen  from  their  limbs. 

And  what  had  General  Grant  to  do  with  it  ? When 
Adjutant- General  Thomas,  clothed  with  authority  to  carry 
out  that  proclamation,  visited  the  southwestern  armies,  as 
he  assured  me,  how  he  should  be  received  by  the  officers, 
many  of  them  Southern  men,  who  hated  “ abolition,”  was 
a serious  question.  But  General  Thomas  is  a lion  when 
roused  by  resistance  or  danger.  He  called  the  command- 
ers together,  and  addressed  them,  declaring  that  the  proc- 
lamation would  be  enforced  to  the  letter.  We  have  our 
chief’s  response  ; 

I.  Corps,  division,  and  post  commanders  will  afford  all  facilities 
for  the  completion  of  the  negro  regiments  now  organizing  in  this 
department.  Commissaries  will  issue  supplies,  and  quartermasters 
will  furnish  stores  on  the  same  requisitions  and  returns  as  are  re- 
quired from  other  troops. 

It  is  expected  that  all  commanders  will  especially  exert  them- 
selves in  carrying  out  the  policy  of  the  Administration,  not  only  in 
organizing  colored  regiments,  and  rendering  them  efficient,  but  also 
in  removing  prejudice  against  them.  * * * 

Major-General  U.  S.  Grant. 

Manly  and  patriotic  words  ! 

Early  in  February,  his  headquarters  are  at  Young’s 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


159 


Point,  in  Louisiana,  near  enough  to  Vicksburg  to  observe 
the  enemy’s  movements,  examine  tbeir  fortifications,  and 
arrange  his  maturing  plans  for  a fresh  advance  upon  the 
fortress.  For,  the  school  story  about  “ Can’t,”  so  perfectly 
characteristic  of  the  man , never  had  a finer  illustration 
than  now.  The  proud  fortress  he  must  and  would  take; 
that,  with  God’s  permission,  was  settled. 

Councils  of  war  resulted  in  the  unanimous  opinion,  in 
accordance  with  General  Grant’s,  that  the  south  side  was 
the  pregnable  side  of  Vicksburg.  But  how  shall  he  get 
there?  Port  Hudson  stands  guard  below,  and  Walnut 
Hills  above.  The  old,  abandoned  canal,  cut  by  Engineer 
Williams  across  the  bend  on  which  the  city  lies,  is  thought 
of  by  General  Grant,  and  its  reopening,  though  it  had 
been  filled  up  by  the  rebels,  commenced,  in  the  hope  of 
getting  through  with  high  water  in  the  spring.  But  the 
dam  gave  way  at  one  end ; the  water  overflowed  the 
lands,  and  the  enterprise  was  abandoned. 

Orders,  limiting  the  communications  from  the  army, 
through  negroes  and  citizens,  to  the  smallest  possible  num- 
ber, to  preserve  the  utmost  secrecy,  were  issued.  The 
silent,  thoughtful,  cautious  commander  was  absorbed  in 
the  mighty  undertaking  in  his  hands. 

A reconnoissance  had  been  made  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Lake  Providence,  during  which  Captain  Prime,  chief 
of  engineers  on  General  Grant’s  staff,  noticed  bayous  run- 
ning into  the  country  back  of  Milliken’s  Bend,  north  of 
Vicksburg.  There  was  another  at  New  Carthage,  south 
of  the  city. 


160 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ Bayous — what  are  they  ? ” a young  reader  asks.  A 
bayou  is  a lake-like  expansion,  or  flow  of  the  river  into  a 
curve  of  the  stream,  extending  often  many  miles  inland. 
The  word  means  channel.  “ Pass,”  is  a stream  from  the 
main  current,  which  returns  again  at  some  distance. 

A bayou  canal  had  been  dug  near  Island  No.  10,  and 
why  not  around  Vicksburg  ? Captain  Prime  was  sure  it 
could  be  done,  after  an  examination  by  himself  and 
Colonel  Pride.  Lake  Providence  was  only  a mile  from 
the  river,  and  was  connected  by  Bayou  Baxter  with 
Bayou  Macon.  The  map  will  give  the  situation  of  these 
waters  not  only,  but  make  you  think  the  plan  a very  easy 
one,  to  cut  a channel  from  the  Mississippi  to  Lake  Provi- 
dence, which  is  lower  than  the  current,  and  was  doubtless 
once  a part  of  it.  Commence  at  this  point,  and  glance  along 
the  bayous  to  Tensas  River,  then  down  it  to  Black  River, 
and  to  the  mouth  of  this,  at  Red  River,  and  the  course  is 
clear  enough  to  the  Mississippi  between  Port  Hudson  and 
Vicksburg. 

The  work  went  on  till  vessels  entered  Lake  Provi- 
dence. But  the  falling  water  of  the  river,  and  passable 
roads,  led  to  the  abandonment  of  the  scheme,  which 
General  Grant  all  the  while  suspected  might  fail ; yet  the 
enterprise  was  valuable,  as  a concealment  from  the  enemy 
of  other  plots  against  their  stronghold. 

Meanwhile,  Admiral  Porter’s  fleet  of  gunboats  were 
acting  with  General  Grant  on  the  Mississippi ; Colonel 
Ellet  having  run  by  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg  with  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


161 


“Queen  of  the  West,”  near  the  middle  of  February,  had 
gone  up  Red  River,  and  captured  transports.  The  noble 
ship,  with  the  “ Indianola,”  which  followed  her,  however 
fell,  subsequently,  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels. 

And  now  another  and  wilder  expedition  was  proposed. 
It  was,  to  get  through  the  long-neglected  Yazoo  Pass, 
leading  from  the  Mississippi  to  Coldwater  and  the  Talla- 
hatchie Rivers  ; thus  getting  a passage  for  troops  by  flank 
movement  to  Haines’s  Bluff,  a post  near  the  mouth  of 
Yazoo  River. 

An  extract  from  an  officer  of  the  gunboat  “ Marmora” 
will  afford  a vivid  view  of  the  adventure  : 

“ The  Rubicon  is  passed.  Three  and  a half  days  of 
most  tedious,  vexatious,  bothersome,  troublesome,  and 
damaging  steamboating  has  brought  this  expedition  twenty 
miles  on  its  way,  and  disclosed  to  its  view  the  end  of  the 
now  famous  Yazoo  Pass.  A more  execrable  place  was 
never  known.  Should  one  propose  to  run  a steamboat  to 
the  moon,  he  would  be  considered  equally  sane,  by  those 
who  had  seen  the  Yazoo  Pass  before  this  expedition 
forced  its  way  through  it,  as  the  person  who  proposed  this 
movement. 

“ I would  like  to  describe  the  Yazoo  Pass.  I would 
like  to  compare  it  to  something  that  would  be  intelligible. 
But  I know  of  nothing  in  heaven  or  on  earth,  or  in  the 
waters  under  the  earth,  that  will  compare  with  it.  Had 
the  immortal  bard  desired  a subject  from  which  to  draw  a 
picture  of  the  way  that  leads  to  the  realms  of  darkness 
11 


162 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


and  despair,  he  had  only  to  picture  the  Yazoo  Pass.  Let 
me  try,  in  the  feeble  language  I can  command,  to  describe 
it.  Perhaps  the  reader  has  passed  through  the  Dismal 
Swamp  of  Virginia ; or,  if  not,  he  has  read  accounts  of 
travellers  who  have  enjoyed  that  privilege.  Then  he  has 
read  of  the  famous  jungles  of  India.  He  has  seen  or 
read  of  the  unbroken  silence  of  the  boundless  tall  forests 
of  the  John  Brown  tract  in  Western  New  York.  Con- 
ceive the  ugliest  features  of  these  three  varieties  of  terri- 
tory, and  he  will  be  able,  by  combining  them,  to  form  a 
tolerably  correct  idea  of  the  region  through  which  the 
Yazoo  Pass  runs.  Those  who  have  watched  the  course 
of  a snake  as  he  trails  his  way  along  the  ground,  winding 
this  way  and  that,  hither  and  yonder,  going  in  all  direc- 
tions at  the  same  time,  and  yet  maintaining  something  of 
a regular  course  in  the  average,  will,  by  exaggerating  the 
picture  in  their  own  minds,  understand  something  of  the 
tortuous  course  of  the  Yazoo  Pass.  I have  passed 
through  it  from  one  end  to  the  other,  and  I assert  can- 
didly, that  there  is  not  throughout  its  entire  length  a piece 
two  hundred  feet  long  of  perfectly  straight  river.” 

The  rebels  found  out  the  project,  and  sent  from  Vicks- 
burg a force  to  the  mouth  of  Tallahatchie  River,  erected 
Port  Pemberton,  and  put  an  end  to  the  enterprise. 

The  last  expedition  of  the  kind  was  undertaken  by 
Admiral  Porter  and  General  Grant,  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  former,  up  Steel’s  Bayou,  through  Black  Bayou  to 
Duck  Creek,  Deer  Creek,  Rolling  Fork,  and  Sunflower 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


163 


River,  into  the  Yazoo.  The  country  was  unexplored, 
delays  were  inevitable,  and  the  enemy  had  time  to  ob- 
struct the  way ; and,  when  near  the  completion  of  the 
difficult,  romantic  passage,  it  was  reluctantly  given  up. 

One  of  the  party  thus  graphically  describes  the  Black 
Bayou : 

“ Black  Bayou,  a narrow  stream,  heretofore  only  navi- 
gated by  dug-outs,  was  made  of  the  width  of  our  steam- 
ers, with  great  labor  of  felling  trees  and  sawing  stumps 
below  the  surface.  Every  foot  of  our  way  was  cut  and 
torn  through  a dense  forest,  never  before  traversed  by 
steamers.  I never  witnessed  a more  exciting  and  pic- 
turesque scene  than  the  transportation,  on  the  last  day,  of 
the  Third  Brigade,  by  General  Stuart.  Crowded  with 
men,  the  steamers,  at  the  highest  possible  speed,  pushed 
through  overhanging  trees  and  around  short  curves. 
Sometimes  wedged  fast  between  trees,  then  sailing  along 
smoothly,  a huge  cypress  would  reach  out  an  arm  and 
sweep  the  whole  length  of  the  boats,  tearing  guards  and 
chimneys  from  the  decks.  The  last  trip  through  the 
Black  Bayou  was  in  a night  pitchy  dark  and  rainy. 

“ While  the  adventure  was  of  uncertain  success — 
when  the  result  seemed  almost  accomplished,  and  when 
our  gunboats  were  surrounded  with  an  enemy  confident  of 
victory,  and  their  extrication  seemed  almost  an  impossibil- 
ity— officers  and  men  worked  with  equal  alacrity,  whether 
in  building  bridges  or  making  forced  marches,  both  by  day 
and  in  the  night.  The  whole  time  was  used  in  labor,  con- 


164 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


stant  and  severe.  It  seems  almost  a miracle  that  the  boats 
were  saved.  If  Generals  Sherman  and  Stuart,  by  their 
utmost  exertions  and  labor,  had  forwarded  their  troops  a 
single  half  day  later,  if  the  second  forced  march  under 
General  Sherman  had  been  retarded  a single  hour,  in  all 
human  probability  the  whole  force  would  have  been  lost.” 

At  different  points  severe  encounters  were  had,  often 
several  thousand  rebels  appearing  from  ambush,  or  behind 
batteries. 

This,  like  the  similar  movements  preceding,  was  highly 
serviceable  in  deceiving  and  bewildering  the  enemy.  But 
the  faultfinders  at  home  were  loud  in  their  complaints. 

Said  an  heroic  captain,  now  in  Libby  Prison,  who 
went  to  the  battle  field  a pro-slavery  politician,  while  on  a 
furlough  at  home  : 

“ It  is  hard  to  fight  an  enemy  in  front  and  rear  at  the 
same  time.  I hear  more  complaints  and  carping  here,  in 
the  midst  of  plenty,  in  a week,  than  in  six  months  in  the 
army.” 

This  fact  is  the  darkest  page  in  the  history  of  the 
war ; no  matter  whether  slavery,  or  some  other  question 
of  policy,  be  the  occasion  of  opposition. 

Because  of  the  silence  kept  around  General  Grant’s 
army,  suspending  correspondence  on  account  of  guerillas 
on  every  hand,  who  would  glean  information,  reports 
had  been  sent  home,  and  circulated,  that  the  army  was 
dying  with  disease.  This  was  good  news  for  the  dis- 
loyal ; but,  as  the  surgeon-general’s  report  and  General 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


165 


Grant’s  despatches  proved,  was  entirely  and  meanly  false. 
While  these  men,  who,  when  the  war  opened,  were 
more  afraid  of  “ abolition  ” than  of  death,  were  en- 
forcing the  proclamation,  and  threading  dismal  swamps, 
with  the  old  flag  in  their  hands,  the  Arnolds  at  home 
were  scolding  and  lying. 

In  Philadelphia  an  amusing  illustration  occurred. 

Rev.  Dr.  B was  present  in  a gathering  of  ministers, 

when  Dr.  C opposed  the  President’s  course  in  regard 

to  the  slaves.  Said  Dr.  B : 

“ Brethren,  when  I was  a young  man,  living  West,  I 
sometimes  went  over  the  prairie,  kicking  the  low  bushes 
to  see  what  I could  start.  One  day,  when  doing  so,  out 
came  a copperhead.  But  he  was  there  before  I hit  the 
bush.  And  thus  with  the  proclamation.  It  has  beaten  the 
lush , and  brought  out  the  Copperheads.  But  they  were 
there  before.” 

One  crimson  face,  and  a loud  laugh  from  all  others, 
silenced  the  disloyal  lips. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


A New  Plan— Admiral  Fan-agut's  Ship— Porter’s  Fleet— Hot  Work- 
Thrilling  Scene — Grierson’s  Raid — Ludicrous  Scenes— Banks  and  Grant 
— Passing  Grand  Gulf  Batteries — The  Grand  Advance— The  Night 
March— The  Night  Battle— Port  Gibson  Taken— Governor  Yates  and 
the  Victory. 


)UR  unwearied  and  undaunted  commander  must 
give  up  his  favorite  flanking  movement.  He 
cannot  get  through  passes,  bayous,  and  canals, 
into  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  and  there  take  pos- 
session of  the  railroads  to  Jackson,  the  capital 
of  the  State.  He  nest  proposes  to  try  a land  route 
mainly.  This  is  to  be  below  the  city,  and  behind  the 
bluffs  of  "Warrenton,  along  the  country  between  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Black  Rivers. 

Admiral  Farragut,  the  middle  of  March,  in  his  fine 
flagship  the  “ Hartford,”  attended  by  the  “ Albatross,” 
steamed  past  Port  Hudson,  and,  reaching  a point  near 
Vicksburg,  communicated  with  General  Grant  and  Admi- 
ral Porter. 

The  last  day  of  March,  the  great  movement  of  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


167 


army  began.  Three  corps  of  it  were  set  in  motion  for  the 
Louisiana  shore,  to  concentrate  at  New  Carthage,  nearly 
opposite  Warrenton.  “The  tug  of  war”  is  yet  to  come. 
How  can  the  gunboats,  and  the  transports  to  convey  the 
soldiers  over  the  river,  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
Porter,  get  by  the  terraces  of  dark-mouthed  cannon  over- 
looking the  water  at  Vicksburg  ? 

April  16th  shone  serene  and  cloudless  upon  the  flash- 
ing tide  of  the  majestic  river  of  the  West.  At  eleven 
o’clock  that  night,  eight  gunboats  and  six  transports  were 
to  try  the  mettle  of  the  Confederate  Gibraltar. 

Men  are  called  for,  willing  to  go  into  the  jaws  of  de- 
struction. The  brave  fellows  rush  with  a hurrah  to  the 
decks.  All  is  ready.  The  signal  bell  strikes  eleven.  Oh 
that  kindly  clouds  would  eclipse  the  stars,  and  fling  their 
shadows  on  the  devoted  ships  ! But  not  a speck  obscures 
the  vernal  sky.  The  steamers  in  sight  are  thronged  to 
watch  the  scene ; and  the  suspense  is  painful  among  the 
crowds.  “ A boat  is  coming ! ” are  words  which  send  a 
shudder  of  apprehension  through  every  heart.  Slowly, 
darkly,  steadily  it  steals  along  the  Louisiana  shore,  lost  in 
foliage-shadow.  Now  it  steers  across  to  the  Mississippi 
side  ; and  another  spectral  form  floats  into  view  ; another, 
and  yet  another,  emerge  from  the  gloom  of  night  and 
distance. 

Midnight  comes,  and  the  procession  of  fourteen  vessels 
is  moving  in  darkness  and  silence  straight  toward  Vicks- 
burg, whose  battlements  loom  through  the  gloom,  re- 


168 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


lievecl  only  by  an  occasional  light.  The  boats  are  fire- 
less and  lampless.  Hopes  and  fears  agitate  the  hearts 
and  are  on  the  lips  of  the  spectators.  Shall  those  strong 
ships  and  brave  men  go  down  under  the  fiery  storm 
of  a hundred  echoing  guns,  or  ride  safely  through  ? 

Up  shoots  a flame,  and  the  thunder  of  ordnance  suc- 
ceeds it.  The  enemy  have  discovered  the  bold  naviga- 
tors. The  rows  of  fire,  followed  with  the  roar,  go  down 
from  the  crest  of  the  fortress  to  the  water’s  edge,  flashing 
on  the  path  of  the  undismayed  warriors  of  the  waters. 
Just  at  this  moment,  a rising,  steady  flame  above  the  city 
lights  up  the  theatre  of  conflict.  High  and  broad  it 
waves,  like  a luminous  banner  against  the  sky.  “ Vicks- 
burg is  on  fire  ! ” is  the  shout.  No  ; on  the  heights  the 
foe  have  kindled  a beacon,  to  show  them  where  to  strike 
the  advancing  line  of  boats.  The  intense  glare  makes  a 
rope’s  shadow  on  the  bright  deck  visible.  But  too  late  is 
the  blaze  thrown  on  the  track  of  the  leviathans. 

The  rebels  are  in  a fever  of  excitement.  Porter’s 
fleet  must  not  join  Farragut,  if  shot  and  shell  can  prevent 
it.  Hiss  I whirr ! crash  ! are  the  music  of  the  death  car- 
nival. 

The  beacon  dies,  and  another  flame  brightens  on  the 
gloom,  through  volumes  of  uprolling  smoke.  “ A ship  is 
on  fire  ! ” The  transport  Henry  Clay  has  caught  from  a 
burning  shell. 

Soon  the  long  line  of  blazing  battlements  from  Vicks- 
burg to  Warrenton  grows  dark  and  still,  and  the  behold- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


169 


ers  retire  to  wait  the  morning  news.  "W onderfnl  are  the 
tidings,  that  take  the  lightning’s  wing  with  the  dawn,  and 
fill  many  eyes  with  tears  of  joy.  The  fleet  is  safe,  with 
comparatively  small  damage — one  hero  killed,  and  two 
others  wounded.  Excepting  the  Henry  Clay,  the  ships 
ride  securely  between  the  fortress  and  New  Carthage. 

General  Grant  breathes  freely  again,  as  the  last  and 
boldest  plan  of  getting  Vicksburg  begins  to  wear  the 
appearance  of  success. 

The  very  next  day  after  the  splendid  feat  on  the  river, 
an  equally  daring  and  extraordinary  one  on  land  was 
started.  General  Grant  wanted  all  the  railroads  cut 
southeasterly  from  Vicksburg,  before  he  left  his  position 
north  of  it,  to  prevent  an  attack  in  the  rear,  should  he 
reach  and  invest  the  city.  Colonel  Grierson,  of  the  First 
Cavalry  Brigade,  was  selected  to  do  the  work ; and  the 
dashing  trooper  with  delight  entered  upon  the  perilous 
gallop  through  the  enemy’s  country. 

Other  regiments  were  at  Colonel  Grierson’s  command. 
Away  they  ride  for  the  railways,  and  across  forests,  fields, 
and  swamps ; now  here,  to  deceive  the  enemy  in  regard 
to  the  real  design,  and  then  in  the  opposite  direction,  tear 
ing  up  a track,  capturing  a train,  or  burning  a mill. 

Amusing  scenes  enlivened  the  raiders’  wild  career. 
Some  of  them,  stopping  at  a wealthy  planter’s  house,  who 
was.  also  a guerilla,  passed  themselves  off  as  Van  Dorn’s 
men  ; for  our  soldiers,  in  these  adventures,  wore  “ secesh  ” 
uniform,  more  or  less.  Finding  splendid  horses  in  his 


170 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


barn,  they  began  to  change  the  saddles  from  their  tired 
steeds  to  the  backs  of  his. 

“ Can’t  spare  ’em,  gentlemen  ! can’t  let  these  horses 
go  ! ” protested  the  planter. 

“We  must  have  them.  You  want  us  to  catch  the 
Yankees,  and  we  shall  have  to  hurry  to  do  it,”  replied  the 
raiders. 

“ All  right,  gentlemen.  I’ll  keep  your  animals  till  you 
return.  I suppose  you’ll  be  back  in  two  or  three  days  at 
the  farthest.  When  you  return,  you’ll  find  they  have 
been  well  cared  for.” 

The  guerilla  is  probably  waiting  still  for  his  friends  and 
horses. 

A young  lady  thus  complains  : 

“ The  first  thing  they  did,  was  to  carry  off  Lizzie’s 
buggy.  They  broke  into  the  storeroom,  and'  took  sister 
Emily’s  wine,  which  they  drank,  and  carried  away  next 
morning.  As  we  sat  quietly  awaiting  our  fate,  still  hoping 
that  God — in  whose  care  ma  had  at  the  beginning  placed 
us,  kneeling  with  us  in  earnest  prayer — would  yet  save  us, 
we  heard  them  dancing,  whooping,  breaking,  and  plunder- 
ing away  over  the  house.  They  stole  all  my  jewelry ; 
they  broke  all  sister  Emily’s  pictures.  Nan  (a  servant) 
was  very  much  distressed  at  their  taking  the  blankets.” 

Poor  girl  ! we  smile  at  and  pity  her.  War  is  no  re- 
specter of  persons,  nor  very  particular  about  the  amount 
of  damage  done  along  his  path. 

East,  northwest,  and  south  the  forces  dash,  apparently 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


171 


•without  order,  and  yet  according  to  a well-matured  plan. 
The  main  body  of  cavalry  presses  on,  to  cut  a path 
through  to  our  lines  near  New  Orleans.  Rebel  camps 
are  destroyed ; and,  when  hotly  pursued,  Colonel  Grier- 
son dashes  on  a bridge,  and,  burning  it  behind  him,  gains 
time  to  escape. 

May  1st,  at  midday,  a courier  galloped  into  Baton 
Rouge,  announcing  the  arrival  of  Colonel  Grierson  through 
the  very  heart  of  the  enemy’s  country,  near  the  city. 
The  tidings  seemed  incredible.  An  escort  soon  met  him, 
and,  amid  deafening  cheers,  the  heroic  raiders  entered  the 
town. 

In  fifteen  days,  eight  hundred  miles  had  been  trav- 
ersed, and  for  thirty  hours  the  column  had  ridden  eighty 
miles  without  rest  or  food,  only  as,  the  last  night,  nature 
surrendered  to  sleep  ; and  the  worn,  soiled,  and  half-fam- 
ished heroes  rode  forward  like  statues  on  horseback,  ex- 
cepting when  a rebel’s  gun  startled  them  a moment. 

Four  million  dollars’  worth  of  property  was  destroyed, 
the  railroads  torn  up,  and  the  mortifying,  alarming  fact 
forced  home  on  the  foe,  that  fancied  security  may  be  the 
moment  of  greatest  danger. 

The  news,  to  General  Grant,  was  another  assurance 
of  triumph  at  hand,  in  the  decisive  game  of  which  the 
raid  was  a single  but  brilliant  move. 

My  young  reader  will  not  forget,  that  over  the  field  of 
army  movements,  many  hundred  miles  in  extent,  the 
erection  of  batteries,  cavalry  raids,  marches,  &c.,  were 


172 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


planned  and  executed  at  the  same  time,  in  different  parts 
of  the  vast  area. 

General  Banks  was  looking  after  Baton  Rouge,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  New  Orleans,  and  in  another  depart- 
ment ; still,  connected  with  the  great  design  of  repossess- 
ing the  whole  valley  of  the  West,  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

General  Grant  believed  in  secrecy  and  promptness. 
Keep  still,  get  ready,  and  then  despatch  the  business  in 
hand,  was  his  motto. 

There  was  a point  called  Hard  Times,  by  the  circuit- 
ous land  route,  seventy  miles  down  the  Louisiana  shore, 
which  was  nearer  the  spot  on  the  Mississippi  side  where 
he  intended  to  land  his  troops.  To  push  forward  rapidly, 
he  resolved  to  build  a road  through  the  wild  region,  for 
the  “ boys  ” the  transports  could  not  carry,  as  they  were 
too  few  to  convey  the  whole. 

During  the  night  of  April  28th,  the  Thirteenth  Army 
Corps  got  on  board  transports,  which,  the  next  morning, 
were  ordered  by  General  Grant  to  move  toward  Grand 
Gulf,  on  the  enemy’s  side,  while  Admiral  Porter,  with  his 
gunboats,  entertained  the  fort  with  his  salutes  of  shot  and 
shell. 

At  eight  o’clock,  “ boom  ! boom  ! ” went  the  admiral’s 
heavy  guns.  In  a moment  the  compliment  was  returned. 
Then,  for  five  hours,  the  tempest  of  iron  hail  raged.  On 
a steamtug  in  the  river  stood  Grant,  watching  with  intense 
interest  the  effect  of  our  guns,  ready  to  bring  forward  the 
forces  to  storm  the  fortress  when  the  naval  work  was 
done. 


LIFE  OF  GENEKAL  GRANT. 


173 


The  enemy  had  tried  to  make  the  fort  impregnable 
since  Farragut  came  and  went  past  it,  and  fought  with  a 
desperate  fury,  which  the  admiral  declared  he  never  saw 
equalled.  The  gunboat  “ Benton  ” was  hit  forty-seven 
times  with  the  ponderous  balls.  On  this  ship,  the  “ Pitts- 
burg,” and  “ La  Fayette,”  over  twenty  were  killed,  and 
nearly  sixty  wounded. 

The  batteries  at  one  time  were  nearly  silenced.  It 
was,  however,  decided  to  abandon  the  attempt  to  take 
them,  and  send  the  transports  by  at  evening,  while  Por- 
ter engaged  the  enemy.  This  was  accomplished  at  six 
o’clock.  Three  days  later,  he  returned  to  renew  the  fight, 
and  found  the  works  deserted. 

The  nest  advance  must  be  over  the  river,  and  on  the 
soil  of  Mississippi.  No  bolder  and  more  sublime  military 
enterprise  was  ever  undertaken. 

The  Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  under  General  McCler- 
nand — a splendid  body  of  men — push  their  columns  to  the 
river’s  margin,  extending  back  in  long  and  bristling  lines. 
"With  brisk  movement  they  soon  are  in  the  transports, 
and  sweep  over  the  tide.  The  die  is  cast.  The  troops 
land  at  Bruninsburg,  below  Grand  Gulf,  and,  according  to 
General  Grant’s  instructions,  march  forward  to  the  bluffs, 
three  miles  distant,  reaching  these  highlands  just  before 
they  catch  the  glow  of  the  setting  sun.  Now,  in  every 
part  of  the  commander’s  host,  there  is  activity  and  haste, 
under  his  inspiring  and  guiding  genius.  ITe  sets  the 
example  of  economy  in  baggage,  that  no  luxury  might 
embariass  their  advance.  Wrote  one  in  the  army  : 


174 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ Starting  on  the  movement,  the  General  disencum- 
bered himself  of  everything,  setting  an  example  to  his 
officers  and  men.  He  took  neither  a horse  nor  a servant, 
overcoat  nor  blanket,  nor  tent  nor  camp  chest,  nor  even  a 
clean  shirt.  His  only  baggage  consisted  of  a tooth  brush. 
He  always  showed  his  teeth  to  the  rebels.  He  shared  all 
the  hardships  of  the  private  soldier,  sleeping  in  the  front 
and  in  the  open  air,  and  eating  hard  tack  and  salt  pork. 
He  wore  no  sword,  had  on  a low-crowned  citizen’s  hat, 
and  the  only  thing  about  him  to  mark  him  as  a military 
man,  was  his  two  stars  on  his  undress  military  coat.” 

From  the  Bluffs,  the  corps  press  on  toward  Port  Gib- 
son, to  surprise  the  rebels  there,  and  protect  the  bridges 
between  Grand  Gulf  and  Jackson,  the  capital  of  Missis- 
sippi. An  exciting,  romantic  night  march  was  that  of  the 
pioneer  volunteers  toward  Vicksburg.  How  grand  the 
spectacle,  as  the  ranks  for  miles  sweep  along  the  road 
under  the  levee  between  them  and  the  river  ; then,  turn- 
ing from  it,  go  winding  over  the  crests  of  hills,  stretching 
away  like  a sea  of  solid  waves  of  orange  and  emerald 
hue  ! Up  the  precipitous  sides  of  some  bold  bluff  the 
rows  of  glittering  steel  creep,  then  pass  in  spectral  indis- 
tinctness through  a deep  ravine  ; now  they  sweep  between 
wide  fields  of  waving  corn,  and  again  over  plains  of  the 
most  fragrant  flowers,  and  through  vernal  forests,  whose 
magnolias  are  in  full  blossom,  flinging,  from  their  cups  of 
alabaster,  delicious  arooja  on  the  midnight  air. 

Reader,  can  you  think  of  a greater  earthly  contrast 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


175 


than  this,  beside  the  track  of  war’s  legions  ? It  is  not 
strange  that  a “ soldier  boy  ” in  the  magnificent  cavalcade 
should  write  : 

“ The  harmony  of  the  scene,  naturally  so  suggestive 
of  peace,  was  sadly  marred  by  the  constantly  recurring 
evidences  that  man  was  at  variance  with  his  fellow.” 

At  length  the  columns  approach  Port  Gibson ; they 
turn  southward,  passing  a “ primitive  church,”  nestled  in  a 
grove  of  blooming  magnolias,  at  one  o’clock  in  the  morn- 
ing. They  had  marched  thirteen  miles  from  Bruninsburg 
without  meeting  the  enemy.  But,  “ crack  ! crack  ! ” go 
the  light  arms  of  the  rebels,  followed  by  the  roar  of  artil- 
lery— che  signals  of  an  opposing  host  eleven  thousand 
strong. 

As  if  by  magic,  the  Union  battalions  wheel  into  line, 
and  open  fire  in  return.  Soon  silence  settles  upon  the 
hostile  batteries,  till  the  dawn  of  day,  when  the  fight 
opens  in  earnest.  Around  that  ancient  little  church,  far 
and  near,  the  battle  rages.  Almost  under  its  shadow  lay 
twenty  bodies  on  a space  of  a few  rods.  The  enemy 
were  thrown  across  the  road  to  Port  Gibson,  and,  at  the 
centre,  on  that  highway,  the  artillery  fire  was  terrible. 

Between  the  armies,  on  our  left,  was  a dense  canebrake, 
filled  with  skirmishers,  where  they  were  secure  against  our 
fire,  and  from  which  “ the  deadly  missiles  came  singing 
through  the  air,  laying  many  a brave  soldier  low.” 

How  will  the  fearful  struggle  turn  ? The  tide  of 
war,  with  a pendulum  swing,  beats  back  and  forth  over 


176 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


ridges  of  the  slain.  But  look  ! Along  the  road  to  Grand 
Gulf,,  see  the  splendid  First  Brigade  of  the  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps,  sweeping  like  a tornado.  Reenforcements 
are  at  hand.  Long  and  loud,  the  shout  of  welcome  rises 
over  the  din  of  battle.  The  fortunes  of  the  day  are 
decided.  A letter  written  from,  the  field,  thus  describes 
the  scene  : 

“ The  boys  fixed  bayonets  and  boldly  charged  the 
position.  Down  upon  their  hands  and  knees,  they  worked 
their  way  through  the  young  cane,  and  mercilessly  slaugh- 
tered all  who  did  not  yield.  One  hundred  and  fifty  men 
were  taken  prisoners  in  this  glorious  charge,  and  scores  of 
rebels  were  killed  and  wounded.  They  gained  the  other 
side  of  the  thicket,  and  picked  off  the  men  and  horses 
serving  the  rebel  battery.  The  Union  batteries  finished 
the  good  work,  and  the  position  and  guns  fell  into  our 
hands. 

“ Beaten  at  every  point,  losing  one  hundred  and  fifty 
killed,  three  hundred  wounded,  and  more  than  five  hun- 
dred prisoners,  the  enemy  sullenly  and  rapidly  retreated  to 
Port  Gibson,  harassed  in  his  flight  by  volleys  of  musketry 
and  the  most  strenuous  efforts  of  our  artillery. 

“ Without  difficulty  they  reached  Port  Gibson,  blow- 
ing up,  when  near  the  village,  a caisson  filled  with  shot, 
shell,  and  powder. 

“ Night  was  wrapping  her  sable  mantle  over  hill  and 
valley,  and  the  silver  moon  shone  out  clear  and  bright, 
casting  a flood  of  beautiful  light  over  friend  and  foe,  when 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


177 


the  order  was  given  to  cease  pursuit.  We  rested  on  the 
battle  field,  wearied  and  exhausted,  and  soon  deep  silence 
reigned  supreme  where  Mars  so  recently  held  high  car- 
nival.” 

Major-General  Grant  hastened  forward  from  Brunins- 
burg,  and  entered  the  crimson  plain  of  victory,  with  the 
sad  joy  of  another  dearly-bought  promise  of  reaching  the 
goal  of  his  hopes. 

The  foe  abandoned  the  fort  in  the  night,  and,  when 
the  flame  of  the  rising  sun  paled  the  conflagration  of  the 
bridge  over  the  Bayou  Pierre,  he  finds  in  his  rear  the 
Stripes  and  Stars  lifted  by  the  breeze  over  the  walls  of 
Port  Gibson. 

Soon  a new  bridge  receives  the  advancing  feet  of  the 
triumphant  volunteers,  and  onward  toward  Vicksburg 
Grant’s  great  army  rapidly  push,  losing  occasionally  a 
hero-boy  by  the  enemy’s  fire. 

The  city  is  twenty-five  miles  from  Grand  Gulf,  and 
eighteen  are  yet  to  be  traversed  before  the  troops  get  to 
its  gates.  The  noble  commander,  never  ostentatious, 
almost  without  observation,  in  the  wake  of  the  legions 
with  torn  yet  flying  colors  headed  toward  Vicksburg, 
changed  his  base  from  Bruninsburg  to  Grand  Gulf.  He 
then  sent  over  the  electric  wires  to  Washington  the  cheer- 
ing news  of  progress.  General  Grant’s  congratulatory 
order  to  the  “ Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee,”  was  a 
grateful  and  glowing  tribute  of  praise.  He  refers  to  the 
12 


178 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


hardships  endured,  the  stormy  weather,  and  the  horrid 
roads,  and  closes  in  these  words  : 

“ More  difficulties  and  privations  are  before  us ; let  us 
endure  them  manfully.  Other  battles  are  to  be  fought ; 
let  us  fight  them  bravely.  A grateful  country  will  rejoice 
at  our  success,  and  history  will  record  it  with  immortal 
honor.” 

Generals  Carr,  Hovey,  Benton,  and  Colonels  Macau- 
ley,  Spiegel,  and  others,  led  on  the  heroic  boys  with  un- 
rivalled valor. 

Naturally  enough,  Governor  Yates,  of  Illinois,  who 
gave  our  hero  his  first  commission  in  the  conflict,  and  who 
was  on  the  late  battle  field,  sent  to  his  State  the  following 
enthusiastic  and  glowing  despatch  : 


Grand  Gulf,  Miss.,  May  4,  1863. 

Our  arms  are  gloriously  triumphant.  We  have  succeeded  in  win- 
ning a victory  which,  in  its  results,  must  be  the  most  important  of 
the  war.  The  battle  of  May  1st  lasted  from- eight  o’clock  in  the 
morning  until  night,  during  all  which  time  the  enemy  was  driven 
back  on  the  right,  left,  and  centre.  All  day  yesterday  our  army  was 
in  pursuit  of  the  rebels,  they  giving  us  battle  at  almost  every  defen- 
sible point,  and  fighting  with  desperate  valor.  Last  night  a large 
force  of  the  enemy  was  driven  across  Black  Elver,  and  General 
HeClernand  was  driving  another  large  force  in  the  direction  of  Wil- 
low Springs.  About  two  o’clock  yesterday,  I left  General  Logan, 
'with  his  division,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  to  join  General  Grant  at 
Grand  Gulf,  which  the  enemy  had  evacuated  in  the  morning,  first 
blowing  up  their  magazines,  spiking  their  cannon,  destroying  tents, 
&c.  On  my  way  to  Grand  Gulf,  I saw  guns  scattered  all  along  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


179 


road,  which  the  enemy  had  left  in  their  retreat.  The  rebels  were 
scattered  through  the  woods  in  every  direction.  This  army  of  the 
rebels  was  considered,  as  I now  learn,  invincible ; but  it  quailed 
before  the  irresistible  assaults  of  Northwestern  valor. 

I consider  Vicksburg  as  ours  in  a short  time,  and  the  Mississippi 
River  as  destined  to  be  open  from  its  source  to  its  mouth. 

I have  been  side  by  side  with  our  boys  in  battle,  and  can  bear 
witness  to  the  unfaltering  courage  and  prowess  of  our  brave  Illi- 
noisans. 

Richard  Tates,  Governor. 

The  very  day  this  message  was  dated,  the  terrible  car- 
nage of  Chancellorsville,  in  Virginia,  under  Hooker,  sent 
him  and  his  battalions  staggering  back  to  the  Rappahan- 
nock, fulfilling  strikingly  the  proverb  of  Solomon  : “ He 
hath  set  adversity  over  against  prosperity.” 


CHAPTER  XY. 


Sherman — Deceiving  the  Enemy— Genera]  Grant’s  Wisdom,  and  humane 
Care  of  the  Men— Ready  to  move  again— Governor  Pettus  frightened— 
Grant’s  Despatch— A Battle— The  Capital  taken— Keavs— Crossing  the 
River— The  Investment  and  Assault— The  Attack  repeated— The  Siege 
—The  Messenger  deserts— The  Prison  Fortress— Amusing  Incidents. 


I UT  where  was  the  splendid  General  Sherman  ? — 
for  he  had  few  superiors  in  the  field.  All  this 
time  of  advance,  General  Grant’s  comprehen- 
sive military  wisdom  was  shining  in  secret  war- 
fare. It  was  no  trifling  part  of  the  campaign, 
ro  keep  the  rebels  at  the  great  centres,  Richmond  and 
Chattanooga,  and,  wherever  interference  with  his  plans 
might  appear,  in  the  dark.  So  Sherman  was  sent  up  the 
Yazoo  River  to  threaten  Haines’s  Bluff,  and  Colonel 
Corwyn  dashed  with  his  cavalry  along  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  Railroad,  menacing  the  posts  in  that  direction. 

There  was,  at  this  juncture,  some  hope  that  General 
Banks  might  ascend  the  river  from  Baton  Rouge,  and, 
taking  Port  Hudson,  join  General  Grant  with  twelve 
thousand  troops.  But  he  was  doomed  to  disappointment, 
and  to  wait  for  Grant. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


181 


The  grand  Army  of  the  West  has  reached  a crisis  in 
affairs  again.  Leaving  Grand  Gulf  as  a base,  the  columns 
are  to  strike  for  the  State  capital  en  route  to  Vicksburg. 
Our  heroic  chief  seems  to  lay  aside  the  field  command, 
and,  with  his  plain  felt  hat,  soiled  clothes,  and  bearded 
face,  superintends  the  work  of  preparation.  For  now,  the 
preliminary  work  of  clearing  the  way  being  done  by  light 
marching,  the  gigantic  work  of  moving  the  whole  caravan 
of  a great  army  has  come.  To  see  that  the  troops  have 
shelter,  and  clothing,  and  food,  is  quite  as  needful  to  suc- 
cess as  arms  and  ammunition.  He  therefore,  in  person, 
looked  after  his  quartermasters,  commissaries,  & c.,  reining 
each  man  up  iu  duty.  This  direct  and  sincere  interest  in 
the  comfort  of  th«  soldiers  has  always  won  their  purest 
respect  and  regard. 

General  Grant  takes  up  his  headquarters  at  an  ad- 
vanced posit 'on  on  Black  Biver,  called  Hawkinson’s 
Ferry.  All  the  machinery  of  warfare  is  ready.  Like  a 
couchant  lion  prepared  to  spring  on  his  prey,  he  waits  a 
few  days  for  Suer  man’s  corps  and  the  wagon  trains  to 
arrive;  send- eg  out  forces  toward  other  points  up  the 
river,  making  the  enemy  believe  that  his  plan  was  to  lead 
his  army  in  that  direction. 

The  game  of  misleading  the  rebels  succeeded  admira- 
bly. The  ter  Fed  Governor  Pettus  issued  a flaming 
proclamation,  .n  which  these  words  occur  : 

“Fathers,  brothers,  Mississippians — while  your  sons 
and  kindred  are  bravely  fighting  your  battles  on  other 


182 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


fields,  and  shedding  new  lustre  on  your  name,  the  burning 
disgrace  of  successful  invasion  of  their  homes,  of  insult 
and  injury  to  their  wives,  mothers,  and  sisters,  of  rapine 
and  ruin,  with  God’s  help  and  by  your  assistance,  shall 
never  he  written  while  a Mississippian  lives  to  feel  in  his 
proud  heart  the  scorching  degradation.” 

May  7th,  General  Grant’s  order  to  advance  flies  along 
the  lines.  Tents  disappear,  and  miles  of  supply  trains  fall 
into  the  wake  of  the  proud  battalions,  with  their  front 
toward  Vicksburg.  With  the  centre  of  the  three  great 
columns,  and  not  behind,  General  Grant  marches,  guiding 
and  watching  their  every  motion.  Soon  as  he  was  fairly 
“ out  to  sea,”  in  the  mariner’s  descriptive  phrase — cut 
loose  from  doubtful  territory,  and  committed  to  the  alter- 
native of  resplendent  conquest  or  darkest  defeat,  he  told 
the  Government  so,  in  the  following  few  words  : 

In  the  Field,  May  11,  1863. 

To  Major-General  Halleck,  General-in-Chief: 

My  force  'will  be,  this  evening,  as  far  advanced  along  Fourteen 
Mile  Creek,  the  left  near  Black  River,  and  extending  in  a line  nearly 
east  and  west,  as  they  can  get  without  bringing  on  a general  en- 
gagement. 

I shall  communicate  with  Grand  Gulf  no  more,  except  it  becomes 
necessary  to  send  a train  with  a heavy  escort. 

You  may  not  hear  from  me  again  for  several  days. 

U.  S.  Grant,  Major-General. 

Northeasterly,  between  him  and  Jackson,  was  Ray- 
mond, a rebel  position.  In  the  morning  of  May  12th, 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


183 


having  brushed  the  enemy,  disputing  the  right  of  way, 
from  their  path,  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  reached  the 
place,  and,  from  the  thick  woods  on  the  banks  of  Fou- 
dron’s  Creek,  the  rebels  poured  their  fire.  Three  hours 
of  desperate  encounter  routed  them,  and  they  fell  back  on 
Jackson,  many  of  them  throwing  down  their  arms  and 
deserting  to  our  lines.  What  followed,  one  of  the  brave 
fellows  finely  describes  : 

“We  encamped  at  Raymond  on  Tuesday  night,  and 
early  Wednesday  morning  started  for  Clinton,  a small 
town  on  the  Vicksburg  and  Jackson  Railroad.  It  was 
considered  indispensably  necessary  for  the  success  of  our 
movement  upon  Vicksburg,  that  we  should  have  posses- 
sion of  the  railroad  and  the  city  of  Jackson.  We  reached 
Clinton  at  nightfall,  and  went  into  camp. 

“ During  the  night,  a regiment  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Tresilian,  of  General  Logan’s  staff,  moved  out  on 
the  railroad  east  and  west  of  Clinton,  and  destroyed  it, 
tearing  up  the  rails,  and  burning  every  bridge  and  the 
timbers  across  every  cattle  guard  for  four  miles  each  side 
of  the  village.  The  telegraph  office  and  the  post  office 
were  seized,  and  rifled  of  their  precious  contents.  From 
this  source  most  valuable  information  of  the  enemy’s 
future  movements  was  obtained.  In  the  express  packages 
left  by  the  train  of  cars  which  steamed  out  of  town  just 
as  our  advance  came  in  sight,  several  orders  from  General 
Johnston  were  discovered,  and  a package  of  Confederate 
scrip. 


184 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ At  Clinton,  a hundred  prisoners  were  found,  occu- 
pants of  rebel  hospitals.  These  were  paroled,  and  taken 
in  charge  by  the  citizens. 

“ At  daylight  Thursday  morning,  the  army  was  on  the 
road  to  Jackson,  moving  in  line  of  battle.  A strong 
advance  guard  was  thrown  out,  and  a heavy  line  of  skir- 
mishers on  the  right  and  left  flank,  and  thus  we  moved  in 
the  direction  of  the  city. 

“ All  was  quiet  for  the  first  five  or  six  miles,  until  we 
reached  a hill  overlooking  a broad  open  field,  through  the 
centre  of  which,  and  over  the  crest  of  the  hill  beyond 
which,  the  road  to  Jackson  passes.  On  the  left  of  this  hill 
the  enemy  had  posted  his  artillery,  and  along  the  crest  his 
line  of  battle.  From  the  foot  of  the  acclivity,  and  not  a 
mile  removed,  we  could  see  the  long  line  of  rebel  infantry 
awaiting  in  silence  our  onset.  Slowly  and  cautiously  we 
moved  up  the  hill  until  we  came  within  range,  when  all  at 
once,  upon  the  heights  to  the  right,  we  discovered  a puff 
of  white  smoke  and  heard  the  report  of  booming  cannon, 
followed  by  the  shrill  scream  of  an  exploding  shell.  One 
of  our  batteries  was  moved  to  the  left  of  a cotton  gin  in 
the  open  field,  midway  between  the  enemy’s  line  of  battle 
and  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  played  upon  the  rebel  battery 
with  telling  effect.  The  duel  was  kept  up  with  great 
spirit  on  both  sides  for  nearly  an  hour,  when  all  at  once  it 
ceased  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  enemy’s  guns.  Two 
brigades  were  thrown  out  to  the  right  and  left  of  this  bat- 
tery, supported  by  another  brigade  at  proper  distance.  A 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


1S5 


strong  line  of  skirmishers  had  been  pushed  forward  and 
posted  in  a ravine  just  in  front,  which  protected  them  from 
rebel  fire.  After  a little  delay,  they  were  again  advanced 
out  of  cover,  and  for  several  minutes  a desultoiy  fire  was 
kept  up  between  both  lines  of  skirmishers,  in  which, 
owing  to.  the  topographical  nature  of  the  ground,  the 
enemy  had  the  advantage. 

“ At  last,  General  Crocker,  who  was  on  the  field,  and 
had  personally  inspected  the  position,  saw  that,  unless  the 
enemy  coidd  be  driven  from  his  occupation  of  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  he  would  be  forced  to  retire.  He  therefore 
ordered  a charge  along  the  line.  With  colors  flying,  and 
with  a step  as  measured  and  unbroken  as  if  on  dress 
parade,  the  movement  was  executed.  Slowly  they  ad- 
vanced, crossed  the  narrow  ravine,  and,  with  fixed  bayo- 
nets, rose  the  crest  of  the  hill  in  easy  range  of  the  rebel 
line.  Here  they  received  a tremendous  volley,  which 
caused  painful  gaps  in  their  ranks.  They  held  their  fire 
until  they  were  within  a distance  of  thirty  paces,  when 
they  delivered  the  returning  volley  with  fearful  effect ; 
and,  without  waiting  to  reload  their  muskets,  with  a ter- 
rific yell  they  rushed  upon  the  staggered  foe. 

“ Over  the  fences,  through  the  brushwood,  into  the 
inclosure,  they  worked  their  way,  and  slaughtered  right 
and  left  without  mercy.  The  enemy,  astonished  at  their 
impetuosity,  wavered  and  fell  back,  rallied  again,  and 
finally  broke  in  wild  confusion.  The  brave  Union  soldiers 
gained  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  the  rebels  fled  in  utter 


186 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


terror.  Our  boys  reloaded  their  muskets,  and  sent  the 
terrible  missiles  after  the  fleeing  rebels,  adding  haste  to 
their  terrified  flight.  They  cast  muskets  and  blankets  to 
the  ground,  unslung  their  knapsacks,  and  ran  like  grey- 
hounds, nor  stopped  to  look  back  until  they  reached  the 
intrenchments  just  within  the  city. 

“ Meantime,  General  Sherman,  who  had  left  Raymond 
the  day  before,  and  taken  the  road  to  the  right,  just 
beyond  the  town,  came  up  with  the  left  wing  of  the 
enemy’s  forces,  and  engaged  them  with  artillery.  They 
made  a feeble  resistance,  and  they,  too,  broke  and  ran. 

“ After  a delay  of  half  an  hour,  to  enable  our  wearied 
soldiers  to  take  breath,  our  column  moved  forward  again. 

“We  reached  the  fort,  and  found  a magnificent  bat- 
tery of  six  pieces,  which  the  enemy  had  left  behind  him, 
and  a hundred  new  tents,  awaiting  appropriation. 

“ The  hospital  flag  was  flying  from  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb  Institute,  and  this  was  crowded  with  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers,  who,  of  course,  fell  into  our  hands  as 
prisoners  of  war.  Opposite  and  all  around  this  building 
were  tents  enough  to  encamp  an  entire  division  ; and  just 
in  front  of  it,  hauled  out  by  the  roadside,  were  two  small 
breech-loading  two-pounder  rifles,  which  had  been  used  to 
pick  off  officers. 

“ Farther  down  the  street  we  found  a pile  of  burning 
caissons ; and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  directly 
in  front  of  the  Confederate  House,  the  stores,  filled  with 
commissaiy  and  quartermaster’s  supplies,  were  briskly 
consuming. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT; 


187 


“ Directly  in  front  of  us,  the  State  House  loomed  up 
in  ample  proportion's.  Two  officers,  taking  possession  of 
the  flag  of  one  of  the  regiments,  galloped  rapidly  forward, 
and  hoisted  it  from  the  flagstaff  surmounting  its  broad 
dome.  The  beautiful  flag  was  seen  in  the  distance  by  the 
advancing  column,  and  with  cheers  and  congratulations  it 
was  greeted. 

“We  had  captured  Jackson,  the  hotbed  of  the  rebel- 
lion. Guards  were  established,  a provost  marshal  ap- 
pointed, and  the  city  placed  under  martial  law.  The  citi- 
zens, particularly  those  who  sustained  official  relations  to 
the  State  and  rebel  Governments,  had  left  the  city  the 
evening  before  ; but  there  were  many  soldiers  left  behind, 
and  a large  number  in  hospital,  who  fell  into  our  hands. 

“The  State  Treasurer  and  Governor  Pettus  were  gone, 
taking  the  funds  and  State  papers  with  them.  A large 
amount  of  Government  and  military  property  fell  into  our 
hands ; but  private  property  was  altogether  unmolested. 
The  offices  of  the  Memphis  Appeal  and  Jackson  Missis- 
sippian  were  removed  the  preceding  night.” 

Among  the  news  found  in  the  rebel  capital,  was  the 
clearest  evidence  that  General  Joe  Johnston  had  ordered 
General  Pemberton  to  leave  Vicksburg,  and  fall  on  the 
rear  of  General  Grant’s  army.  Away  hurries  a large 
force  to  Bolton,  nearly  midway  between  Jackson  and 
Vicksburg,  to  meet  him,  more  than  willing  to  go  halfway. 
General  Grant  then  removed  his  headquarters  to  Clinton, 
keeping  all  the  while  among  the  troops  in  motion. 


188 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Early  on  the  16th  of  May,  not  far  from  Bolton,  the 
armies  met  at  Champion’s  Hill.  It  was  a fearfully  bloody 
fight.  Our  “ boys”  charged  the  flying  enemy  in  the  woods, 
covering  the  ground  with  the  dead.  During  the  engage- 
ment, the  Commander-in-chief  was  on  the  field,  directing 
the  swaying  host,  as  it  fell  crusliingly  on  the  changing 
front  of  the  foe.  The  defeated  army  retreated  to  Big 
Black  River  toward  Vicksburg.  The  Thirteenth  and 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps  were  in  pursuit. 

General  Grant  is  remarkable  for  “ looking  ahead  ” — 
providing  for  emergencies.  In  this  case,  he  had  sent  on  a 
force,  with  a pontoon  train,  which  was  ready  when  Gen- 
eral Sherman,  who  had  been  ordered  from  Bolton,  came 
up  to  cross.  While  he  could  go  over  the  stream  there, 
with  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  the  passage  of  the  Thir- 
teenth and  Seventeenth  was  disputed,  at  a railroad  bridge 
across  the  Big  Black ; but  after  a severe  combat,  in  which 
they  burned  the  bridge,  the  rebels  fled.  In  a single  night 
the  troops  made  their  floating  bridges,  and  got  over. 

Three  miles  from  Vicksburg ! Such  was  the  position 
of  Major-General  Grant  on  May  19th,  1863. 

The  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  swept  round  to  the  Wal- 
nut Hills,  to  communicate  with  Admiral  Porter’s  fleet  in 
the  Yazoo  River.  The  other  corps  took  strong  positions  ; 
in  the  words  of  General  Grant,  “ covering  all  the  ground 
their  strength  would  admit  of,”  and  fairly  investing  Vicks- 
burg. Not  knowing  the  exact  condition  of  the  fortress, 
he  thought  the  disheartening  defeats  of  the  enemy  would 
favor  an  assault. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


189 


It  has  already  been  intimated  that  Admiral  Porter  was 
in  the  Yazoo,  near  Vicksburg ; but  how  he  got  there,  is 
the  unanswered  question.  The  noble  old  hero  had  been 
watching  General  Grant’s  progress,  pushing  up  the  Yazoo 
as  fast  as  he  could  cooperate,  with  that  harmony  of  action 
and  patriotic  sympathy  felt  only  by  noble  minds.  At 
Haines’s  Bluff,  instead  of  a battle,  the  terrified  rebels  fled 
at  his  approach.  Destroying  magazines  and  much  other 
property,  he  had  got  within  sound  of  the  conqueror’s 
guns  thundering  around  Vicksburg. 

The  assault  was  fruitless  ; the  works  were  not  entered, 
and  could  not  be  by  storming.  But,  after  two  days’ 
rest  and  preparation,  establishing  supplies  north  of  the 
city,  General  Grant  resolved  to  try  again.  “ Can’t,”  in 
any  case,  he  hated  to  hear.  Johnston,  who  retreated 
when  the  capital  surrendered,  might  fall  on  his  rear,  and 
the  troops  were  impatient  to  see  the  interior  of  the  Gi- 
braltar. 

Ox»the  22d  of  May,  with  all  the  generals’  watches  set 
with  General  Grant’s,  that  they  might  move  at  the  same 
moment — at  ten  o’clock — the  bugle  call  to  charge  rang 
full  and  clear  on  the  air  of  spring.  The  three  army  corps, 
led  by  McClernand,  McPherson,  and  Sherman,  under  the 
eye  of  General  Grant,  dashed  forward,  the  long  lines  of 
bayonets  gleaming  in  the  vernal  sun.  Gaps  had  been 
made  by  the  artillery  in  the  outer  walls,  and,  protected  by 
that  fire,  over  ditch,  ridge,  and  through  a shower  of  bullets, 
the  lines  advanced,  planting  the  Stars  and  Stripes  upon  the 


190 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


bastions.  Still,  the  massive  circles  of  defence  stood  be- 
tween the  assailants  and  the  assailed,  unshaken,  unbroken. 

The  brave  troops,  uncomplainingly,  and  in  good  order, 
fell  back,  to  fight  again. 

In  the  lull  which  succeeded  these  assaults,  arose  an 
unhappy  dissension  in  camp.  General  McClernand  issued 
a congratulatory  order  to  his  troops,  lavishing  eulogy  upon 
them,  and  intimating  that  success  would  have  attended 
their  splendid  action,  if  General  Grant  had  sent  reenforce- 
ments asked  for,  and  promised,  if  wanted.  Jealousies 
sprang  up,  and  threatening  dissension  cast  a gloom  over 
the  besieging  ranks.  General  Grant,  though  warmly 
attached  to  McClernand,  who  had  been  with  him  since  he 
assumed  the  control  at  Cairo,  when  his  friend  acknowl- 
edged the  order,  and  defended  it,  acted  promptly  for  the 
good  of  the  army,  and  relieved  him  of  his  command. 

The  rebels,  till  these  waves  of  the  war  tide  were 
beaten  back  by  their  fortress,  had  seen  hard  times,  as  well 
as  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  whose  headquarters  on«e  bore 
that  name.  Leaders  are  liable  to  suspicion  when  their 
enterprises  fail ; and  it  was  muttered  in  the  garrison  that 
General  Pemberton  had  sold  the  troops  at  Champion’s 
Hill  and  Big  Black  River  Bridges.  Once  sure  that  his 
hiding  place  would  stand  the  Yankee  storming  columns, 
he  addressed  the  men  as  follows  : 

“You  have  heard  that  I was  incompetent  and  a 
traitor,  and  that  it  was  my  intention  to  sell  Vicksburg. 
Follow  me,  and  you  will  see  the  cost  at  which  I will  sell 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


191 


"Vicksburg.  "When  the  last  pound  of  beef,  bacon,  and 
flour,  the  last  grain  of  corn,  the  last  cow,  and  hog,  and 
horse,  and  dog,  shall  have  been  consumed,  and  the  last 
man  shall  have  perished  in  the  trenches,  then,  and  only 
then,  will  I sell  Vicksburg.” 

These  defiant  words  were  answered  with  a shout  of 
approval ; and  General  Grant  prepared  to  test  their  truth 
by  slow  and  patient  siege.  He  was  right  in  supposing 
that  the  failure  to  storm,  though  it  cost  him  valuable  lives, 
would  make  the  troops  more  willing  to  enter  on  the  siege. 

Vicksburg  was  surrounded  by  General  Grant’s  armies, 
excepting  partial  communication  on  the  left  of  our  lines, 
between  General  Pemberton  and  General  Johnston,  at 
Canton,  Miss.  From  Arkansas,  General  Herron  was 
called,  to  complete  the  enclosure  of  the  city  by  troops. 

There  the  fated  city  stands,  in  the  ring  of  Union  can- 
non and  bayonets,  while  the  unyielding,  taciturn,  patient 
commander  settles  down,  the  last  of  May,  for  a summer 
residence  there.  If  he  can  continue  his  visit  to  Pember- 
ton longer  than  the  latter  wishes  him  to  or  can  stay  at 
home,  then  he  will  have  to  leave  his  castle,  and  let  his  out- 
door and  unwelcome  visitor  go  in,  and  help  himself  to 
what  may  remain.  Subterranean  pathways  are  dug  for 
the  gunners,  and  other  troops,  who  thus  escape  the  bullets 
of  the  sharpshooters. 

Around  Vicksburg,  our  men  took  what  rations  they 
could,  and  then  tried  to  live  on  the  country,  which  was 
rather  hard  fare.  At  one  time  their  movements  were  so 


192 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


rapid  that  there  was  no  time  to  cook,  if  they  had  food. 
A hardbread  or  a corn  pone  would  command  a dollar  at 
any  moment.  Some  one  found  a negro  with  a half  peck 
of  meal,  and  six  men  with  bayonets  mounted  guard  over 
the  fire  while  the  bread  was  baking  for  General  Grant’s 
luxurious  repast.  After  these  privations,  one  of  the 
officers,  who  was  coming  down,  brought*  a basket  of  ale 
to  the  General  and  his  staff.  General  Grant  expressed  his 
thanks,  appreciated  the  kindness,  and  would  just  taste  it, 
in  acknowledgment ; but  he  drank  none,  not  even  ale. 

In  repeating  some  anecdote  of  General  Grant  which 
he  had  heard,  a gentleman  said  : 

“ Grant’s  answer  was,  with  an  oath,  1 1 don’t  believe 
it.  It  is  one  of  the  rebel  lies.’  An  officer  replied  : ‘No, 
I do  not  think  he  said  that.  I never  heard  him  utter  one 
profane  word.’  ” 

The  same  officer  was  speaking  of  the  difference  be- 
tween Rosecrans  and  Grant,  in  the  matter  of  general- 
ship. On  one  occasion,  during  a fight,  Rosecrans  was 
standing  in  a commanding  position,  and  giving  his  orders. 
Suddenly  he  started,  and  made  toward  a regiment  to  chase 
back  one  man  who  was  running,  and  spent  some  little 
time,  in  the  height  of  the  battle,  sending  him  back  to 
his  place.  Grant,  in  the  midst  of  fighting,  was  watching 
intently,  and  working  earnestly,  when  he  was  accosted  by 
a surgeon.  He  had  taken  a fine  house  for  a hospital,  and 
had  his  wounded  gathered  in  and  about  it,  when,  in  the 
turn  of  the  fight,  shot  and  shell  began  to  fall  among  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


193 


poor  fellows.  “General,”  said  he,  “what  shall  I do  ? 
Some  of  my  poor  men  are  getting  wounded  a second 
time.”  “ Don’t  come  to  me,”  said  General  Grant,  mildly, 
but  earnestly  ; “ I have  this  battle  to  fight ; that  is  your 
business.  I can’t  attend  to  your  wounded,  nor  think  of 
them  now.  Don’t  interrupt  me  ! ” waving  his  hand  ; “ I 
have  this  fighting  to  attend  to.” 

Providential  incidents  had  their  important  part  in  the 
successes  of  our  arms.  Among  them  was  this  striking 
one : A young  fellow  named  Douglas,  formerly  an  Illi- 
noisan, who  had  lived  South,  and  there  joined  the  rebel 
ranks,  was  sent  to  Johnston  by  Pemberton,  presuming  he 
would  seize  a horse  outside  the  walls,  and  ride  through  the 
pickets  to  Canton.  But,  tired  of  the  service  of  Jeff. 
Davis,  he  walked  to  the  guard,  and  delivered  himself  up 
prisoner  of  war.  General  Grant  got  the  message  in- 
tended for  Johnston.  The  substance  of  it  was  : 

“ I have  fifteen  thousand  men  at  Vicksburg,  and 
rations  for  thirty  days — one  meal  a day.  Come  to  mr 
aid  with  thirty  thousand  men.  Attack  Grant  in  the  rear. 
If  you  cannot  do  it  within  ten  days,  you  had  better  re- 
treat. Ammunition  is  almost  exhausted,  particularly  per- 
cussion caps.” 

A cloud  passed  over  the  “ Confederacy  ” with  the 
incredible,  astounding  fact,  that  General  Grant  had  com- 
pletely outwitted  the  traitors — gone  across  their  soil,  and 
set  himself  down  coolly  to  watch  the  boasted  Sebastopol, 
making  a fearful  prison  of  his  enemy’s  fortress.  How 
13 


194 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


fearful  it  soon  became,  you  can  guess  from  the  thousands 
of  horses  and  mules  turned  out  of  it  because  they  could 
not  be  fed.  General  Grant  secured  and  used  many  of 
them. 

Singular  scenes  occur  across  the  lines  of  the  hostile 
armies.  Just  after  Yicksburg  was  invested,  a sharp- 
shooter, from  the  works,  politely  asked  of  one  in  ours  : 

“ Can  you  give  a fellow  a drink  of  coffee,  if  he  goes 
there  ? ” 

“ Plenty  of  it.” 

“ Well,  comrades,”  says  reb.,  “ shall  I go  ? ” 

“Yes;  go  ahead.” 

The  rifleman  did  go,  and,  for  the  first  time  in  a year, 
drank  a cup  of  coffee. 

He  lingered,  and  was  evidently  in  no  haste  to  return. 

“ Come  back  ! ” shouted  his  friends. 

“ Think  not ; this  coffee  won’t  let  me.  Good-by  ! ” 

And  the  soldier  of  Yicksburg  remained  where  he 
found  “ enough  and  to  spare,”  while  his  disloyal  brethren 
of  a common  heritage  were  “ in  want.” 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


The  captured  Courier— G-rant  and  the  Letters— The  Sappers  and  Miners— 
How  they  do  their  strange  Work — All  is  ready — The  Explosion — The 
Advance— The  Flag  of  Truce— The  Message,  and  General  Grant’s  An- 
swer—'The  Capitulation — The  Fourth  of  July  in  Vicksburg— The  Glad 
Tidings — The  Loss  and  Gain — The  President  and  General  Grant — Scenes 
after  the  Fall  of  the  Fortress — Bill  of  Fare — The  Bead — Hurrah  ! 


^HE  days  wear  away.  Ball  and  shell  rush 
through  the  air  at  intervals,  day  and  night. 
The  gunboats  “boom”  away  in  front,  and  the 
batteries  of  the  army  in  the  rear.  General 
Grant  had  sent  troops  to  watch  Joe  Johnston, 
who,  it  was  reported,  was  near  the  Big  Black  River,  and 
advancing  with  a large  force. 

It  is  night.  And  see  that  rebel  soldier  creeping  in  the 
darkness  stealthily  from  the  solid  ramparts,  and  through 
the  lines  of  Union  pickets.  He  now  feels  safe.  But 
there  come  some  wide-awake  “Yankee  boys,”  and  his 
career  as  courier  is  over.  The  messenger’s  secreted  letters 
are  demanded,  and  handed  over.  They  are  addressed 
to  home  friends,  and  express  discouragement,  with  the 
hope  that  Johnston  would  come  to  their  relief.  Some  of 
them,  who  may  have  been  Christian  men  in  spite  of  the 


196 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


horrible  secession  delusion,  declared  their  resignation  to 
God,  and  their  trust  in  Him. 

General  Grant  wrote  to  General  Sherman,  command- 
ing the  forces  against  Johnston,  and,  referring  to  these 
epistles  of  the  rebels,  said  : 

“ They  seem  to  put  a great  deal  of  faith  in  the  Lord 
and  Joe  Johnston;  but  you  must  whip  Johnston  at  least 
fifteen  miles  from  here.” 

But  “Joe”  kept  out  of  the  way,  and  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg  went  forward.  The  hardest  work  was  done  by 
the  sappers  and  miners.  Let  us  take  a look  at  them. 
You  notice  those  soldiers  keeping  guard,  here  and 
there,  in  line  with  and  near  the  frowning  walls  of  the 
fortress.  Go  nearer,  and  you  will  see  Welsh,  Scotch, 
English,  and  Irish  miners  digging  saps,  or  trenches, 
leading  toward  a common  point  close  to  the  walls  of 
the  fort.  By  the  side  of  them  rise  gabions,  or  some- 
thing like  towers,  to  defend  the  workmen.  To  get  to 
the  -main  sap  leading  to  the  mine,  which  is  a large  square 
ditch  running  under  the  fortress  walls,  in  which  the  pow 
der  is  to  be  put,  the  men  must  go  nearly  an  eighth  of 
a mile  right  before  the  enemy’s  guns.  To  do  this  alive, 
trenches  are  dug  one  after  the  other,  in  such  directions — 
but  all  making  a general  passage  way — -that  the  shot  and 
shell  cannot  reach  the  workmen  and  officers,  as  they  go 
and  come. 

The  guards  we  alluded  to  allow  none  to  pass  but  the 
miners,  and  the  few  chief  officers.  Sharpshooters  lie  in 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


197 


the  trenches  to  pick  off  the  rebels  who  venture  to  look 
from  their  battlements  and  see  what  is  'going  on  below. 
Occasionally  a battery  is  put  in  position  to  aid  in  the 
defence.  The  heaps  of  dirt  thrown  up,  also,  are  a protec- 
tion. Now,  having  got  a “pass,”  go  into  the  trenches 
and  wind  along  the  damp  pathways,  venturing  now  and 
then  to  glance  at  the  bristling  walls  no  more  than  fifteen 
feet  from  you,  as  you  approach  that  deep,  dark  opening 
downward,  and  under  the  massive  ramparts.  A frame- 
work of  timber  around  this  mine  keeps  back  the  crum- 
bling earth  which  the  projectiles  have  broken  away  from 
the  works,  and  gabions  and  boxes  defend  the  entrance  to 
the  magazine  of  destruction. 

Listen,  now.  “ Pick  ! pick  ! ” go  the  instruments  of 
delving ; then  the  grinding  sound  of  the  shovels  is  heard. 
The  air  is  spectral,  for  most  of  the  work  is  done  in  the 
night. 

It  is  June  25th ; the  day  has  faded,  and  the  miners 
dig  with  rapid  strokes,  for  a few  hours  will  finish  the 
strange,  wild,  dark  business,  which  the  busy,  fertile  brain 
of  General  Grant  has  carried  forward  with  his  wise 
secrecy  of  purpose.  Hark  ! the  pickaxes  and  spades  are 
held  in  mute  alarm.  The  enemy  is  at  work  too,  sinking 
his  shaft  toward  our  own.  The  men  rush  away,  fearing 
an  explosion  ; but  now  return  again  to  complete  the  ruin. 

Such  is  a mere  glimpse  of  the  perilous,  gloomy,  awful 
preparation  to  blow  into  fragments  hostile  battlements, 
and  with  them  scores,  perhaps  hundreds  of  men,  into 
eternity.  W rites  an  eyewitness  : 


198 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ Everything  was  finished.  The  spark  has  been 
applied,  and  the  now  harmless  flashes  went  hurrying  to  the 
centre.  The  troops  had  been  withdrawn.  The  forlorn 
hope — or  troops  detailed  to  rush  into  the  breach — stood 
out  in  plain  view,  boldly  awaiting  the  uncertainties  of  the 
precarious  office.  A chilling  sensation  ran  through  the 
frame  as  an  observer  looked  down  upon  this  devoted  band, 
about  to  hurl  itself  into  the  breach — perchance  into  the 
jaws  of  death.  Thousands  of  men  in  arms  flashed  on 
every  hill.  Every  one  was  speechless.  Even  men  of 
tried  valor — veterans  insensible  to  the  shouts  of  contend- 
ing battalions,  or  nerved  to  the  shrieks  of  comrades  suffer- 
ing under  the  torture  of  painful  agonies — stood  motionless 
as  they  directed  their  eyes  upon  the  spot  where  soon  the 
terror  of  a buried  agency  would  discover  itself  in  wild 
concussions  and  contortions,  carrying  annihilation  to  all 
within  the  scope  of  its  tremendous  power.  It  was  the 
seeming  torpor  which  precedes  the  antagonism  of  power- 
ful bodies.  Five  minutes  had  elapsed.  It  seemed  like  an 
existence.  Five  minutes  more,  and  yet  no  signs  of  the 
expected  exhibition.  An  indescribable  sensation  of  impa* 
tience,  blended  with  a still  active  anticipation,  ran  through 
the  assembled  spectators.  A small  pall  of  smoke  now 
discovered  itself ; every  one  thought  the  crisis  had  come, 
and  almost  saw  the  terrific  scene  which  the  mind  had 
depicted.  But  not  yet.  Every  eye  now  centred  upon 
the  smoke,  momentarily  growing  greater  and  greater. 
Thus  another  five  minutes  wore  away,  and  curiosity  was 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


199 


not  satisfied.  Another  few  minutes,  then  the  explosion ; 
and  upon. the  horizon  could  be  seen  an  enormous  column 
of  earth,  dust,  timbers,  and  projectiles  lifted  into  the  air  at 
an  altitude  of  at  least  eighty  feet.  One  entire  face  of  the 
fort  was  disembodied  and  scattered  in  particles  all  over 
the  surrounding  surface.  The  right  and  left  faces  were 
also  much  damaged ; hut,  fortunately,  enough  of  them 
remained  to  afford  an  excellent  protection  on  our  flanks. 

“ No  sooner  had  the  explosion  taken  place,  than  the 
two  detachments  acting  as  the  forlorn  hope  ran  into  the 
fort  and  sap,  as  already  mentioned.  A brisk  musketry 
fire  at  once  commenced  between  the  two  parties,  with 
about  equal  effect  upon  either  side.  No  sooner  had  these 
detachments  become  well  engaged,  than  the  rest  of  Leg- 
gett’s Brigade  joined  them,  and  entered  into  the  struggle. 
The  regiments  relieving  eacli  other  at  intervals,  the  con- 
test now  grew  severe ; both  sides,  determined  upon  hold- 
ing their  own,  were  doing  their  best.  Volley  after  volley 
was  fired,  though  with  less  carnage  than  would  be  sup- 
posed. The  Forty-fifth  Illinois  charged  immediafely  up  to 
the  crest  of  the  parapet,  and  here  suffered  its  heaviest, 
losing  many  officers  in  the  assault. 

“After  a severe  contest  of  half  an  hour,  with  varying 
results,  the  flag  of  the  Forty-fifth  appeared  upon  the  sum- 
mit of  the  work.  The  position  was  gained.  .Cheer  after 
cheer  broke  through  the  confusion  and  uproar  of  the  con- 
test, assuring  the  troops  everywhere  along  the  line  that 
the  Forty -fifth  was  still  itself.  The  colonel  was  now  left 


200 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


alone  in  command  of  the  regiment,  and  he  was  himself 
badly  bruised  by  a flying  splinter.  The  regiment  had  also 
suffered  severely  in  the  line,  and  the  troops  were  worn  out 
by  excessive  heat  and  hard  fighting. 

“ The  explosion  of  the  mine  was  the  signal  for  the 
opening  of  the  artillery  of  the  entire  line.  The  left 
division  of  General  McPherson’s  Seventeenth,  or  centre 
corps,  opened  first,  and  discharges  were  repeated  along  the 
left  through  General  Ord’s  Thirteenth  Corps,  and  Her- 
ron’s extreme  1 left  division,’  until  the  sound  struck  the 
ear  like  the  mutterings  of  distant  thunder.  General  Sher- 
man, on  the  right,  also  opened  his  artillery  about  the  same 
time,  and  occupied  the  enemy’s  attention  along  his  front. 
Every  shell  struck  the  parapet,  and,  bounding  over,  ex- 
ploded in  the  midst  of  the  enetay’s  forces  beyond.  The 
scene  at  this  time  was  one  of  the  utmost  sublimity.  The 
roar  of  artillery,  rattle  of  small  arms,  the  cheers  of  the 
men,  flashes  of  light,  wreaths  of  pale  blue  smoke  over 
different  parts  of  the  field,  the  bursting  of  shell,  the  fierce 
whistle  of  solid  shot,  the  deep  ‘ boom  1 of  the  mortars,  the 
broadsides  of  the  ships  of  war,  and,  added  to  all  this,  the 
vigorous  replies  of  the  enemy,  set  up  a din  which  beggars 
all  description.  The  peculiar  configuration  of  the  field 
afforded  an  opportunity  to  witness  almost  every  battery 
and  every  rifle  pit  within  seeing  distance ; and  it  is  due  to 
all  the  troops  to  say,  that  every  one  did  his  duty. 

“ After  the  possession  of  the  fort  was  no  longer  in 
doubt,  the  pioneer  corps  mounted  the  work,  with  their 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


201 


shovels,  and  set  to  throwing  up  earth  vigorously  in  order 
to  secure  space  for  artillery.  A most  fortunate  peculiarity 
in  the  explosion,  was  the  manner  in  which  the  earth  was 
thrown  out.  The  appearance  of  the  place  was  that  of  a 
funnel,  with  heavy  sides  running  up  to  the  very  crest  of 
the  parapet,  affording  admirable  protection  not  only  for  our 
troops  and  pioneers,  but  turned  out  a ready-made  fortifica- 
tion in  the  rough,  which,  with  a slight  application  of  the 
shovel  and  pick,  was  ready  to  receive  the  gups  to  be  used 
at  this  point. 

“ Miraculous  as  it  may  seem,  amid  all  the  fiery  ordeal 
of  this  afternoon’s  engagement,  one  hundred  killed  and 
two  hundred  wounded  is  a large  estimate  of  casualties  on 
our  side. 

“ From  a lookout  on  the  summit  of  an  eminence  near 
the  rebel  works,  the  movements  of  the  enemy  could  be 
plainly  watched.  An  individual  in  the  tower,  just  prior 
to  the  explosion  of  the  mine,  saw  two  rebel  regiments 
marching  out  to  the  fort.  Of  a sudden — perhaps  upon 
seeing  the  smoke  of  the  fuse — the  troops  turned  about 
and  ran  toward  the  town  in  perfect  panic.  They  were 
not  seen  again  during  the  fight ; but  other  regiments  were 
brought  up  to  supply  their  place.”  * 

Another  gives  the  following  brief  sketch  of  the  explo- 
sion : 

“ This  morning  the  work  was  completed  ; an  immense 


* De  E.  K.  Keim. 


202 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  (^RANT. 

quantity  of  gunpowder  was  stored  in  the  cavity  prepared 
to  receive  it,  and  the  fuse  train  was  laid.  At  noon,  the 
different  regiments  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps  selected  to 
make  the  assault  upon  the  breach  when  it  should  have 
been  effected,  were  marshalled  in  long  lines  upon  the  near 
slopes  of  the  hills  immediately  confronting  the  doomed 
rebel  fortifications,  where,  disposed  for  the  attack,  they 
impatiently  awaited  the  denoument.  The  rebels  seemed 
to  discover  that  some  movement  was  on  foot ; for,  from 
the  moment  our  troops  came  into  position  until  the  explo- 
sion took  place,  their  sharpshooters  kept  up  an  incessant 
fire  from  the  whole  line  of  their  works. 

“ At  length  all  was  in  readiness ; the  fuse  train  was 
fired,  and  it  went  fizzing  and  popping  through  the  zigzag 
line  of  trenches,  until  for  a moment  it  vanished.  Its  dis- 
appearance was  quickly  succeeded  by  the  explosion,  and 
the  mine  was  sprung.  So  terrible  a spectacle  is  seldom 
witnessed.  Dust,  dirt,  smoke,  gabions,  stockades,  timber, 
gun  carriages,  logs — in  fact,  everything  connected  with  the 
fort — rose  hundreds  of  feet  into  the  air,  as  if  vomited  forth 
from  a volcano.  Some  who  were  close  spectators  even 
say  that  they  saw  the  bodies  of  the  poor  wretches 
who,  a moment  before,  had  lined  the  ramparts  of  the 
work.”  * 

“ As  soon  as  the  explosion  had  taken  place,  the  great- 
est activity  was  manifested  along  the  whole  line,  under 


* Fitzpatrick’s  despatch. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


203 


the  soul-inspiring  orders  of  General  Grant.  The  follow- 
ing is  a specimen  of  the  emphatic  style  with  which  that 
General  calls  for  vigilance  on  the  part  of  his  troops  : 


June  25,  1S63. 

General  Ord  : 

McPherson  occupies  the  crater  made  by  the  explosion.  He  will 
have  guns  in  battery  there  by  morning.  He  has  been  hard  at  work 
running  rifle  pits  right,  and  thinks  he  will  hold  all  gained.  Keep 
Smith’s  division  sleeping  under  arms  to-night,  ready  for  an  emer- 
gency. Their  services  may  be  required  particularly  about  daylight. 
There- should  be  the  greatest  vigilance  along  the  whole  line. 

H.  S.  Grant,  Major-General. 

“In  the  meantime,  the  gunboat  fleet  off  Warrenton 
commenced  a bombardment  of  the  enemy’s  forts.  This 
was  kept  up  without  intermission  until  midnight,  when  it 
was  slackened  to  desultory  shots.  The  fuses  of  the  shells, 
as  they  ascended  in  the  air,  were  easily  distinguishable, 
and  looked  in  their  course  like  shooting  meteors.  When 
they  would  strike,  the  shell  would  explode  with  a terrific 
report.  Some  of  the  shells  exploded  in  the  air,  and  the 
flashes  which  they  emitted  looked  like  an  immense  piece 
of  pyrotechny.”  * 

And  now,  more  rapidly  the  lines  of  General  Grant 
approached  the  fortress.  He  felt  sure  of  the  prize,  and 
was  willing  to  continue  the  siege,  rather  than,  by  bolder 


* Larkee. 


204 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


and  immediately  successful  assault,  sacrifice  many  lives, 
among  them  the  women  and  children  in  the  city.  General 
Grant  is  humane  ; he  values  human  life,  and  never  flings  it 
away  for  glory  ; a high,  and,  in  its  excellence,  a Christian 
quality  of  character. 

The  rebels,  who  a few  weeks  before  were  defiant,  now 
crowded  closely  together,  and  in  dread  awaited  the  hour 
of  doom. 

The  Fourth  of  July  was  at  hand ! General  Grant 
had  not  forgotten  it ; and  there  were  signs  of  its  celebra- 
tion by  a grand  entree  ; at  least,  an  attempt  to  keep  Inde- 
pendence Day  in  the  city. 

July  3d  lights  up  the  beleaguered  fortress,  and  from 
the  walls  emerge  two  rebel  generals,  Bowen  and  Mont- 
gomery, and  over  them  waves  a flag  of  truce.  They 
enter  our  lines  with  a sealed  message.  Away  flies  a 
courier  to  General  Grant.  The  calm,  expectant  com- 
mander, who  for  several  months  had  in  anticipation  seen 
this  hour,  breaks  the  seal,  and  reads  a proposition  from 
General  Pemberton  for  an  armistice , that  terms  of  capitu- 
lation may  be  arranged.  That  proud  officer  boasted  that 
he  could  hold  out  as  long  as  he  pleased,  but  wished  to  “ save 
further  effusion  of  blood.”  Entirely  characteristic  of  the 
brave,  magnanimous  man,  was  the  answer  of  General 
Grant : 

“ The  effusion  of  blood  you  propose  stopping  by  this 
course,  can  be  ended  at  any  time  you  may  choose,  by  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  and  garrison.  Men 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


205 


•who  nave  shown  so  much  endurance  and  courage  as  those 
now  in  Vicksburg,  will  always  challenge  the  respect  of  an 
adversary,  and,  I can  assure  you,  will  be  treated  with  all 
the  respect  due  them  as  prisoners  of  war.  I do  not  favor 
the  proposition  of  appointing  commissioners  to  arrange 
terms  of  capitulation,  because  I have  no  other  terms  than 
those  indicated  above.” 

The  nest  proposal  is,  to  meet  General  Pemberton  at 
three  o’clock  p.  m.,  on  neutral  ground,  and  consult  to- 
gether. General  Grant  consents,  and  sends  the  blindfold 
messengers  back.  Mr.  Keim,  a New  York  correspondent 
of  the  press,  graphically  describes  what  followed  : 

“ At  three  o’clock  precisely,  one  gun,  the  prearranged 
signal,  was  fired,  and  immediately  replied  to  by  the 
enemy.  General  Pemberton  then  made  his  appearance  on 
the  works  in  McPherson’s  front,  uuder  a white  flag,  con- 
siderably on  the  left  of  what,  is  known  as  Fort  Hill.  Gen- 
eral Grant  rode  through  our  trenches  until  he  came  to  an 
outlet  leading  to  a small  green  space  wrhich  had  not  been 
trod  by  either  army.  Here  he  dismounted,  and  advanced 
to  meet  General  Pemberton,  with  whom  he  shook  hands, 
and  greeted  familiarly. 

“ It  wras  beneath  the  outspreading  branches  of  a 
gigantic  oak  that  the  conference  of  the  generals  took 
place.  Here  presented  the  only  space  which  had  not  been 
used  for  some  purpose  or  other  by  the  contending' armies. 
The  ground  was  covered  with  a fresh,  luxuriant  verdure ; 
here  and  there  a shrub  or  clump  of  bushes  could  be  seen 


206 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


standing  out  from  the  green  growth  on  the  surface,  while 
several  oaks  filled  up  the  scene,  and  gave  it  character. 
Some  of  the  trees,  in  their  tops,  exhibited  the  effects  of 
flying  projectiles,  by  the  loss  of  limbs  or  torn  foliage,  and 
in  their  trunks  the  indentations  of  smaller  missiles  plainly 
marked  the  occurrences  to  which  they  had  been  silent 
witnesses. 

“ The  party  made  up  to  take  part  in  the  conference 
was  composed  as  follows  : 

“ United  States  officers  : Major-General  U.  S.  Grant, 
Major-General  James  B.  McPherson,  Brigadier-General  A. 
J.  Smith. 

“ Kebel  officers:  Lieutenant-General  John  C.  Pem- 
berton, Major-General  Bowen,  Colonel  Montgomery,  A. 
A.-G.  to  General  Pemberton. 

“ When  Generals  Grant  and  Pemberton  met,  they 
shook  hands,  Colonel  Montgomery  introducing  the  party. 
A short  silence  ensued,  at  the  expiration  of  which  Gen- 
eral Pemberton  remarked  : 

“ 1 General  Grant,  I meet  you  in  order  to  arrange 
terms  for  the  capitulation  of  the  city  of  Vicksburg  and  its 
garrison.  What  terms  do  you  demand  ? ’ 

“ ‘ Unconditional  surrender ,’  replied  General  Grant. 

“ ‘ Unconditional  surrender ! ’ said  Pemberton.  ‘Never, 
so  long  as  I have  a man  left  me ! I will  fight  rather.’ 

“ ‘ Then,  sir,  you  can  continue  the  defence,’  coolly  said 
General  Grant.  ‘ My  army  has  never  been  in  a better 
condition  for  the  prosecution  of  the  siege.’ 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


207 


“ During  the  passing  of  these  few  preliminaries,  Gen- 
eral Pemberton  was  greatly  agitated,  quaking  from  head 
to  foot ; while  General  Grant  experienced  all  his  natural 
self-possession,  and  evinced  not  the  least  sign  of  embar- 
rassment. 

“ After  a short  conversation  standing,  hy  a kind  of 
mutual  tendency  the  two  generals  wandered  off  from  the 
rest  of  the  party,  and  seated  themselves  on  the  grass,  in  a 
cluster  of  bushes,  where,  alone,  they  talked  over  the  im- 
portant events  then  pending.  General  Grant  could  be 
seen,  even  at  that  distance,  talking  coolly,  occasionally 
giving  a few  puffs  at  his  favorite  companion — his  black 
cigar.  General  McPherson,  General  A.  J.  Smith,  Gen- 
eral Bowen,  and  Colonel  Montgomery,  imitating  the  ex- 
ample of  the  commanding  generals,  seated  themselves  at 
some  distance  off,  while  the  respective  staffs  of  the  gen- 
erals formed  another  and  larger  group  in  the  rear. 

“ After  a lengthy  conversation,  the  generals  separated. 
General  Pemberton  did  not  come  to  any  conclusion  on  the 
matter,  but  stated  his  intention  to  submit  the  matter  to  a 
council  of  general  officers  of  his  command ; and,  in  the 
event  of  their  assent,  the  surrender  of  the  city  should  be 
made  in  the  morning.  Until  morning  was  given  him  to 
consider,  to  determine  the  matter,  and  send  in  his  final 
reply.” 

After  a consultation  with  his  officers,  he  sent  to  Gen- 
eral Pemberton  this  answer : 


208 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Headquarters,  Department  of  Tennessee, 
Near  Vicksburg,  July  3,  1863.  \ 

Lieutenant  General  J.  C.  Pemberton,  commanding  Confederate 
forces,  Vicksburg,  Miss.  : 

General  : In  conformity  with  the  agreement  of  this  afternoon,  I 
will  submit  the  following  proposition  for  the  surrender  of  the  city  of 
Vicksburg,  public  stores,  &e.  On  your  accepting  the  terms  proposed, 
I will  march  in  one  division,  as  a guard,  and  take  possession  at  eight 
o’clock  to-morrow  morning.  As  soon  as  paroles  can  be  made  out  and 
signed  by  the  officers  and  men,  you  will  be  allowed  to  march  out  of 
our  lines,  the  officers  taking  with  them  their  regimental  clothing,  and 
staff,  field,  and  cavalry  officers  one  horse  each.  The  rank  and  file 
will  be  allowed  all  their  clothing,  but  no  other  property. 

If  these  conditions  are  accepted,  any  amount  of  rations  you  may 
deem  necessary  can  be  taken  from  the  stores  you  now  have,  and  also 
the  necessary  cooking  utensils  for  preparing  them  ; thirty  wagons, 
also,  counting  two  two-liorse  or  mule  teams  as  one.  You  will  be 
allowed  to  transport  such  articles  as  cannot  be  carried  along.  The 
same  conditions  will  be  allowed  to  all  sick  and  wounded  officers  and 
privates,  as  fast  as  they  become  able  to  travel.  The  paroles  for  these 
latter  must  be  signed,  however,  whilst  officers  are  present,  authorized 
to  sign  the  roll  of  prisoners. 

I am,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  Grant,  Major-General. 

After  further  correspondence,  in  which  slight  modifica- 
tions were  made  at  the  request  of  General  Pemberton,  lie 
sent  his  note  of  surrender  to  General  Grant,  dated  July 
4th,  1863. 

Since  the  negotiation  began,  firing  had  ceased.  Silent 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


209 


curiosity  took  possession  of  the  men.  They  collected  in 
groups,  walked,  talked,  and  wondered  what  next. 

The  glorious  Fourth  was  bright  as  the  hopes  of  our 
chieftain  and  his  braves,  whose  patient  labor  and  siege  was 
crowned  with  brilliant  success.  Like  a bow  strained  to  its 
utmost  tension,  and  then  unbent,  the  comprehensive  mind 
of  General  Grant,  and  all  hearts,  were  relieved  from  a 
long  and  wearing  interest  and  anxiety. 

But  mark  the  crowning  quality,  as  a commander,  of 
General  Grant — perseverance.  Amid  the  very  joy  of  the 
victory,  and  the  excitement  of  preparation  to  enter  Vicks- 
burg, he  formed  and  mentioned  his  plan  to  pursue  and 
crush,  if  possible,  General  Joe  Johnston.  He  was  resolved 
to  follow  up  the  conquest,  and  hasten  after  the  enemy 
outside  the  walls  over  which  the  national  ensign  would  be 
waving  in  a few  moments. 

Before  noon,  white  flags  fluttered  in  the  breeze  along 
the  battlements  of  the  fort.  Then,  regiment  after  regi- 
ment of  the  rebels  marched  out,  stacking  their  arms — a 
privilege  General  Grant  magnanimously  granted  them, 
and  without  the  usual  attendance  of  a superintending 
officer.  The  truly  great  never  meanly  triumph  over  a 
prostrate  foe.  March  ! march  ! rattle  ! rattle  ! goes  the 
musketry  into  glittering  pyramids  for  three  long  hours. 

At  one  o’clock  the  Union  army,  with  the  unruffled, 
plain,  modest  Grant  at  the  head  of  it,  began  to  move  into 
Vicksburg.  The  brilliant  staffs,  the  bands  playing,  the 
banners  flying,  and  the  columns  of  happy  troops,  made  a 
14 


210 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


spectacle  rarely  seen  in  the  world.  They  poured  into  the 
city  in  steel-crested,  glittering  tides,  till  the  old  camps  were 
all  deserted.  Then,  from  the  Court  House,  how  grandly 
the  old  flag  floated  on  the  sunny  air  ! 

Where  is  Admiral  Foote  ? Look  up  the  broad  river, 
and  you  will  know.  He  has  been  watching  for  the  signal, 
and  now  he  catches  a glimpse  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
and  down  the  flagship  steams,  followed  by  the  procession 
of  gunboats,  cutting  the  foam,  with  pennants  flying,  and 
music  rising  over  their  wake ; and  soon  all  nestle  under 
the  friendly  walls. 

The  rebel  loss  in  the  entire  campaign  of  Vicksburg, 
in  killed,  wounded,  stragglers,  and  in  hospitals,  was  esti- 
mated at  over  forty-six  thousand ; and  in  arms,  large  and 
small,  forty-five  thousand  pieces.  The  Union  loss  was 
only  about  eight  thousand. 

The  loss  of  Vicksburg  was  a stunning  blow,  in  the 
effect  every  way  upon  the  enemy  ; and  to  us  a glorious 
encouragement.  It  opened  the  Mississippi,  and  cut  the 
rebel  territory  in  two,  fatally.  The  great  West  was  hope- 
lessly gone  from  the  grasp  of  the  foe. 

Telegrams  never  flew  faster  on  lightning  wing,  than 
those  which  carried  the  tidings  of  the  fall  of  Vicksburg. 
The  cities  and  prairies  of  the  West  sent  up  the  shout  of 
enthusiastic  joy.  The  loyal  East  echoed  back  the  glad- 
ness. When  the  despatch  reached  the  honest  President, 
he  acknowledged  General  Grant’s  genius  and  splendid 
strategy,  in  the  following  message  : 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


211 


Executive  Mission,  Washington,  July  13,  1863. 
To  Major-General  Grant  : 

My  dear  General  : I do  not  remember  that  you  and  I ever  met 
personally.  I write  tliis  now  as  a grateful  acknowledgment  for  the 
almost  inestimable  service  you  have  done  the  country.  I wish  to  say 
a word  further.  When  you  first  reached  the  vicinity  of  Vicksburg,  I 
thought  you  should  do  ■what  you  finally  did — march  the  troops  across 
the  neck,  run  the  batteries  with  the  transports,  and  thus  go  below ; 
and  I never  had  any  faith,  except  a general  hope  that  you  knew  bet- 
ter than  I,  that  the  Yazoo  Pass  expedition,  and  the  like,  could  suc- 
ceed. When  you  got  below  and  took  Port  Gibson,  Grand  Gulf,  and 
vicinity,  I thought  you  should  go  down  the  liver  and  join  General 
Banks ; and  when  you  turned  northward  east  of  the  Big  Black,  I 
feared  it  was  a mistake.  I now  wish  to  make  a personal  acknowledg- 
ment that  you  were  right  and  I was  wrong. 

Yours,  very  truly,  A.  Lincoln. 

I 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  not  ashamed  to  acknowledge 
that  General  Grant  was  “ too  smart  for  him.”  However 
good  the  intentions  at  Washington,  we  shall  never  know 
what  meddling  there  with  army  command  has  cost  the 
country.  The  President’s  letter  shows  what  it  might  have 
done  for  General  Grant. 

Mr.  Lincoln  is  a thorough  temperance  man.  But 
when,  after  Vicksburg  fell,  some  of  the  complaining  gen- 
tlemen called  on  him,  between  them  and  himself  an 
amusing  conversation  occurred : 

“ So  I understand  Grant  drinks  whiskey  to  excess  ? ” 
interrogatively  remarked  the  President. 

“Yes,”  was  the  reply. 


LIFE  OF  GEXERAL  GRANT. 


'212 

" W hat  whiskey  does  ? 1 M Lot- 

coin. 

bat  a iritis  ' i his  hearers. 

“ Yes.  Is  it  Bourbon,  or  Monongahela  ? " 

“ Why  do  you  ask,  Mr.  President  ? " 

■•Because,  if  it  makes  him  -win  victories  like  this  at 
W the;  .try.  I will  send,  a demhehn  of  the  same  kind  to 
every  general  in  the  army." 

The  visiters  had  no  more  to  say  ah  cut  G eneral  Grant's 
dissipation  ’.  stated  . entered  Vicks 

with  his  chctcshci  c gaz  in  h;  :u;u;h.  A 'writer  of  doubt- 
fui  loyalty  — ; ii  said  : 

" We  pardon  Genera'.  Grant's  smoking  a cigar  as  he 
entered  the  smouidering  ruins  of  the  town  of  Vicksburg. 
A little  stage  erect  is  admissible  in  great  captains.  con- 
sidering that  Vapoleon  at  Milan  wore  the  little  cocked  hat 
and  sword  of  Marengo,  and  the:  smun  was  the  inevitable 
concomitant  of  victory  in  the  great  Frederick.  General 
Grant  is  a noble  fehow,  and.  by  the  terms  of  capitulation 
he  accorded  to  the  heroic  garrison,  shewed  himself  as 
generous  as  ISaroleon  was  to  Wnrmser  at  the  surrender 
of  Mantua.  His  deed  —hi  read  well  in  history,  and  he 
has  secured  to  him  seif  a name  which  posterity  wik  pro- 
nounce with  veneration  and  gratitude.  There  is  no  gen- 
eral in  this  eountrv,  or  in  Eurctoe,  that  has  done  raider 
work  titan  General  Grant,  and  none  that  ras  better  graced 
his  victories  by  the  exercise  of  humanity  and  virtue. 
What  we  lean  of  the  terms  of  capitulation,  as  sumcient  to 


LIFE  OF  GEWEBAL  GRJOJT. 


213 


prove  General  Grant  to  be  a generous  soldier  and  a man. 
A truly  brave  man  respects  bravery  in  others,  and,  when 
the  sword  is  sheathed,  considers  himself  free  to  follow  the 
dictates  of  humanity.  General  Grant  is  not  a general  that 
maria  his  progress  by  proclamations  to  frighten  unarmed 
men,  women,  and  children ; he  fulminates  no  arbitrary 
edicts  against  the  press ; he  does  not  make  war  on  news- 
papers and  their  correspondents : he  flatters  no  one  to  get 
himself  puffed ; hut  he  is  terrible  in  arms,  and  magnani- 
mous after  the  battle.  Go  on,  brave  General  Grant  * pur- 
sue the  course  you  have  marked  out  for  yourself;  and 
Clio,  the  pensive  mu3e,  as  she  records  your  deeds,  will 
rejoice  at  her  manly  theme.” 

An  Iowa  surgeon  found  a curious  bill  of  fare  in  the 
rebel  camp,  a part  of  which  i3  given,  to  show  how  near 
famine  the  troops  were  : 

HOTEL  DE  V IG'ELSE  L EG. 

BILL  OF  FARE  FOE  JULY,  1333. 


SOUP. 

Mole  tail. 

BOILED. 

Mole  bacon  with,  poke  greens. 
Mule  hflnn  canvassed. 

ROAST. 

Mule  sirloin,  &c. 


214 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Passing  over  similar  dishes,  we  come  to 


DESSERT. 


White-oak  acorns. 
Beech  nuts. 


Blackberry  leaf  tea. 
Genuine  Confederate  coffee. 


In  a “ Card,”  it  is  added  : 

Parties  arriving  by  the  river,  or  Grant’s  inland  route,  will  find 
Grape,  Canister  & Co.’s  carriages  at  the  landing,  or  any  depot  on  the 
line  of  intrenckments. 

One  who  was  there,  wrote  : 

“ Pemberton  was,  of  course,  the  chief  attraction.  He 
is  in  appearance  a tall,  lithe-built  and  stately  personage. 
Black  hair,  black  eyes,  full  beard,  and  rather  severe  if  not 
sinister  expression  of  countenance,  as  of  one  who  had 
great  trials  of  the  soul  to  endure.” 

This  general  was  a Philadelphian,  but  married  a 
Southern  lady,  and  so  became  a secessionist.  The  same 
observer  adds  : 

“ The  greatest  curiosities  are  the  caves  hewn  into  the 
banks  of  earth,  in  which  the  women  and  children,  and 
non-combatants,  crept  during  the  heat  of  the  bombard- 
ment. At  night,  and  sometimes  during  an  entire  day,  the 
whole  of  these  people  would  be  confined  to  their  caverns. 
They  are  constructed  about  the  height  of  a man,  and 
three  feet  wide,  a fork  V shaped  into  the  bank.  There 
are,  perhaps,  five  hundred  of  these  caves  in  the  city 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


215 


around  the  -works.  As  many  as  fifteen  have  been  crowd- 
ed into  one  of  them.” 

A highly  cultivated  and  Christian  lady,  who  lived  in 
one  of  these  caves,  with  no  words  of  bitterness,  has  given 
a very  interesting  account  of  her  captivity.  They  were 
dug,  at  first,  with  their  mouths,  or  doors,  opening  toward 
the  rear  of  the  city,  and  away  from  the  gimboats.  And 
when  General  Grant  so  arranged  his  batteries  that  the 
shells  came  from  that  side,  often  they  exploded  right  in 
the  caves.  One  day,  near  her,  a shell  went  crushing 
through  the  roof  of  a neighbor’s  cell,  and  tore  in  frag- 
ments her  sleeping  babe.  What  an  awful  life  of  sus- 
pense ! Even  the  moonlight  evening,  bathing  rampart, 
deserted  mansion,  and  cave,  with  soothing  radiance,  was 
no  protection.  She  saw  a scene,  after  Burbridge’s  charge, 
which  she  thought  looked,  after  all,  as  if  the  millennium 
might  be  near.  A wounded  Confederate  was  lying  nearer 
to  our  troops  than  his  own.  He  looked  and  begged  for 
water.  The  air  was  full  of  death’s  missiles.  But  a noble 
Union  soldier  stepped  forward,  and,  taking  his  canteen, 
went  to  the  sufferer,  and,  while  he  fanned  him,  gave  him 
the  cooling  draught. 

Beautiful  and  touching  spectacle  ! A little  of  Heav- 
en’s pure  light  athwart  the  sulphurous  gloom  of  war  ! 

Here,  my  young  reader,  is  a true  picture  of  the  dead 
of  Vicksburg  : 

“ They  lay  in  all  positions ; some  with  musket  grasped, 
as  though  still  contending ; others  with  cartridge  in  the 


216 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


fingers,  just  ready  to  put  the  deadly  charge  where  it  might 
meet  the  foe.  All  ferocity  had  gone.  A remarkably 
sweet  and  youthful  face  was  that  of  a rebel  boy.  Scarce 
eighteen,  and  as  fair  as  a maiden,  with  quite^small  hands, 
long  hair  of  the  pale  golden  hue  that  auburn  changes  to,  if 
much  in  the  sun,  and  curling  at  the  ends.  He  had  a shirt 
of  coarse  white  cotton,  and  brown  pants  well  worn ; while 
upon  his  feet  were  a woman’s  shoes  about  the  size  known 
as  1 fours.’  His  left  side  was  torn  by  a shell,  and  his  left 
shoulder  shattered.  Two  men,  who  had  caught  at  a fig 
tree  to  assist  them  up  a steep  embankment,  lay  dead  at 
his  feet,  slain,  ip  all  probability,  by  an  enfilade  from  their 
right ; the  branch  at  which  they  caught  was  still  in  their 
grasp.  Several  were  headless,  others  were  armless ; but 
the  manner  of  their  death  was  always  plain.  The  Minie 
left  its  large,  rather  clear  hole ; the  shell  its  horrid  rent  ; 
the  shrapnel  and  grape  their  clear,  great  gashes,  as  though 
one  had  thrust  a giant’s  spear  through  the  tender  quiver- 
ing flesh,  In  one  trench  lay  two,  grasping  the  same 
weapon — friend  and  foe.  Across  their  hands  fell  a vine, 
the  end  upon  the  breast  of  a rebel,  where  it  had  fallen 
with  them  from  an  elevation  above,  the  roots  still  damp 
with  the  fresh  earth ; upon  it  was  a beautiful  passion 
flower  in  full  bloom,  and  two  buds  ; the  buds  were  stained 
with  blood — the  flower  as  bright  as  was  the  day  when  the 
morning  stars  sang  together.  On  the  faces  of  both  was 
the  calm  that  follows  sleep — rather  pale,  perhaps,  but 
seeming  like  him  of  old,  of  whom  it  is  said,  ‘ He  is  not 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


217 


dead,  but  sleepeth.’  But  ab,  the  crimson  ! Ail  is  not 
■well  when  the  earth  is  stained  with  blood.  In  some 
places  the  dead  were  piled,  literally,  like  sacks  of  grain 
upon  the  shore. 

“ It  is  remarkable  with  what  patience  the  fatally 
wounded — they  who  already  stood  upon  the  shore — bore 
their  sufferings.  Some  knew  that  they  could  not  recover, 
but  bore  it  manfully.  Sometimes  a tear,  and  a low  voice 
would  say,  1 My  sweet  wife  ! ’ or  ‘ Darling  ! ’ 1 Mother  ! ’ 
or  ‘ God  forgive  ! ’ — a quiver — then,  all  was  over.” 

Notwithstanding  such  havoc,  and  the  mourning  homes, 
the  poet,  Alfred  B.  Street,  with  many  other  bards,  ex- 
pressed the  national  rejoicing,  and  the  grateful  admiration 
of  Grant : 

Vicksburg  is  ours  1 
Hurrah  ! 

Treachery  cowers  ! 

Hurrah  ! 

Down  reels  the  rebel  rag  ! 

Up  shoots  the  starry  flag  ! 

* * % * * 

Vicksburg  is  ours  ! 

Hurrah  ! 

Arch  the  green  bowers  ! 

Hurrah  ! 

Arch  o’er  the  hero,  who 
Nearer  and  nearer  drew, 

Letting  wise  patience  sway, 

Till,  from  his  brave  delay, 


218 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Swift  as  the  lightning’s  ray, 
Bounded  he  to  the  fray, 

Full  on  his  fated  prey ; 

Thundering  upon  his  path, 
Swerving  not,  pausing  not, 
Darting  steel,  raining  shot, 

In  his  fierce  onset,  hot 
With  his  red  battle  -wrath ; 
Flashing  on,  thundering  on  ; 
Pausing  then  once  again, 

Curbing  with  mighty  rein, 

All  his  great  heart,  as  vain 
Writhed  the  fierce  foe,  the  chain 
Tighter  and  tighter  round, 

Till  the  reward  was  found — 

Till  the  dread  work  was  done — 
Till  the  grand  wreath  was  won. 

Triumph  is  ours  ! 

Hurrah  ! 


CHAPTER  XYIT. 

The  Eastern  Army— Port  Hudson  falls — The  “Father  of  "Waters'’  open— 
Joe  Johnston  pursued — Jeff.  Davis’s  Library  found— Jackson  surren- 
ders—General  Grant’s  care  of  his  Soldiers — His  Politics — Anecdotes — 
Looks  after  his  Department— Mrs.  Grant  visits  him— General  Grant 
goes  to  Memphis— A splendid  Reception. 


1EANWHILE,  the  battle  was  raging  in  the 
HI  East.  There,  too,  the  army  was  covered  with 
glory.  Almost  the  very  hour  that  Vicksburg 
falls,  General  Meade,  at  the  head  of  his  battal- 
ions,  beats  back  the  most  threatening  tide  of 
secession,  under  Lee,  which  had  ever  overswept  the  bor- 
der of  the  Free  States.  The  terrific  and  glorious  field  of 
Gettysburg,  Pa.,  is  won,  the  national  honor  saved,  and  the 
invader  sent,  stunned  and  bleeding,  back  within  his  lines. 
Memorable  Fourth  of  July  indeed  to  the  war-scarred 
land ! The  country  was  wild  with  joy  amid  showers  of 
tears  for  the  slain.  But  let  us  look  down  the  Mississippi 
again. 


The  morning  sun  of  July  7th  floods  the  “Father  of 
"Waters.”  Hark  ! how  the  naval  lions  roar  on  the  bright 
waters  I Peal  after  peal  reverberates  along  the  green  shores. 


220 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


The  rebel  garrison  of  Port  Hudson,  whose  guns  are  silent, 
wonder  at  the  sound,  the  interludes  of  which  were  cheers 
of  wildest  rejoicing.  They  listen  all  day,  and,  as  the 
evening  approaches,  their  curiosity  could  endure  the  strange 
demonstration  no  longer.  At  one  of  the  points,  where 
the  armies  were  within  speaking  distance,  a rebel  officer 
called  out : 

“ What  are  you  making  all  that  noise  about  ? ” 

Union  officer.  “We  have  taken  Vicksburg.” 

Rebel.  “ Don’t  believe  it.” 

Union  officer.  “ What  will  convince  you  ? ” 

Rebel.  “ Nothing  but  the  copy  of  the  despatch,  or 
some  reliable  authority.” 

Union  officer.  “ Well,  I’ll  get  a copy,  and  pass  it  over 
the  parapet.” 

Rebel.  “ If  you’ll  do  that,  and  vouch  for  its  genuine- 
ness on  your  honor  as  a gentleman  and  a soldier,  I’ll  be- 
lieve it.” 

The  Union  man  soon  furnished  the  evidence  required, 
copied  in  his  own  hand. 

The  rebel  took  it,  and  read  it,  saying : 

“ I am  satisfied.  It  is  useless  for  us  to  hold  out 
longer.” 

Meanwhile,  General  Grant  had  managed  to  have  a 
message  to  General  Banks  intercepted  by  the  enemy,  con- 
veying the  same  intelligence.  General  Frank  Gardiner 
sent  to  the  latter  to  know  if  it  were  true  that  Vicksburg 
had  surrendered.  When  assured  it  was,  he,  too,  pulled 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


221 


down  the  rebel  flag,  and  ours  was  run  up  instead.  This 
cleared  the  Mississippi,  from  its  head  waters  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico. 

But  what,  meanwhile,  has  Johnston  been  doing,  whom 
we  left  hovering  in  the  distance  around  Vicksburg,  impa- 
tient to  help  the  beleaguered  army  ? Foiled  in  his  designs 
by  the  sleepless  vigilance  of  General  Grant,  he  had  chafed 
like  a caged  lion  in  the  toils,  quite  as  thoroughly  besieged 
in  the  open  field  as  his  fellow  traitors  within  the  city. 
And  now  General  Sherman,  by  General  Grant’s  order, 
moved  toward  him,  animated  by  the  recent  victories.  The 
desperate  and  startled  general  expressed  his  alarm  in  the 
following  proclamation : 

Fellow  Soldiers  : An  insolent  foe,  flushed  with  hope  by  his 
recent  success  at  Vicksburg,  confronts  you,  threatening  the  people, 
whose  homes  and  liberty  you  are  here  to  protect,  with  plunder  and 
conquest.  Their  guns  may  even  now  be  heard  as  they  advance. 

The  enemy  it  is  at  once  the  duty  and  the  mission  of  you,  brave 
men,  to  chastise  and  expel  from  the  soil  of  Mississippi.  The  com- 
manding general  confidently  relies  on  you  to  sustain  his  pledge, 
which  he  makes  in  advance,  and  he  will  be  with  you  in  the  good 
work,  even  unto  the  end. 

The  rebel  general  reoccupied  Jackson,  the  capital  of 
Mississippi,  and  waited  for  Sherman’s  advance.  On,  free- 
dom’s volunteers  swept,  till  they  reached  Pearl  River,  run- 
ning through  the  city ; and,  extending  the  lines  in  a broad 
curve,  they  nearly  encircled  the  city  with  walls  of  armed 


men. 


222 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


July  11th,  troops  detailed  to  forage  in  the  country 
near — i.  e.,  seek  supplies  on  the  enemy’s  soil — accidentally 
found  in  an  old  building,  carefully  packed  away,  a large 
library,  and  various  mementos  of  friendship.  A glance 
revealed  the  owner.  A gold-headed  cane  bore  the  in- 
scription, “ To  Jefferson  Davis  from  Franklin  Pierce.” 
Precious  plunder  ! The  arch  traitor  has  hidden  in  the 
quiet  country,  and  in  a place  which  could  awaken  no  sus- 
picion, his  valuable  library,  correspondence,  and  articles  of 
cherished  regard.  The  excited  troopers  soon  get  into  the 
book  pile,  and  volumes,  heaps  of  letters,  and  handsome 
canes,  are  borne  as  trophies  (a  new  kind  of  forage)  to 
headquarters.  Secession  is  discussed  in  many  letters,  by 
Northern  friends  of  the  treasonable  leader,  and  his  right 
to  that  proud  distinction  freely  granted. 

Added  to  this  capture,  the  railways  on  every  side  of 
the  city  were  destroyed,  and  hundreds  of  cars  taken  from 
the  Confederacy. 

The  twilight  hour  of  July  16th  brought  to  a projection 
of  the  works  rebel  bands  of  music,  insulting  our  troops 
with  “ Bonnie  Blue  Flag,”  “ My  Maryland,”  “ Dixie’s 
Land,”  and  other  airs  perverted  to  the  service  of  treason. 
The  next  morning’s  dawn  gave  signs  of  a retreating  foe. 
The  “ fighting  Joe  Johnston  ” had  stolen  away,  leaving  all 
over  Jackson  the  marks  of  ruin.  The  day  before — July 
15th — the  President  issued  a proclamation  for  national 
thanksgiving  on  the  6 th  day  of  August,  for  the  recent 
victories. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


223 


A little  affair,  about  this  time,  illustrated  the  honesty 
and  humanity  of  General  Grant.  The  steamboat  compa- 
nies, like  other  vultures  preying  upon  every  department 
of  the  great  army,  charged  the  soldiers  from  fifteen  to 
thirty  dollars  fare  from  Cairo  to  Vicksburg,  when  from 
one  third  to  a quarter  of  the  sum  would  have  been  a large 
demand.  One  day,  the  steamer  “ Hope  ” touched  at 
Vicksburg.  The  decks  were  covered  with  the  brave 
volunteers,  homeward  bound  from  the  late  hard  service,  on 
a brief  furlough.  There  were  twelve  hundred  bronzed 
heroes,  of  whom  nearly  a quarter  were  officers.  General 
Grant  was  informed  that  the  captain  had  charged  them 
from  ten  to  twenty-five  dollars  each.  Calling  an  officer, 
he  said  : 

“ Take  a guard,  and  order  that  captain  to  refund  to 
enlisted  men  the  excess  of  five  dollars,  and  of  seven  dol- 
lars to  the  officers ; or  he’ll  be  arrested,  and  his  boat  con- 
fiscated.” 

The  captain  listened,  and  looked  with  amazement. 
The  armed  guard  convinced  him  it  was  useless  to  resist. 
He  put  on  an  air  of  injured  innocence  in  the  extortion, 
and  out  with  his  pocketbook.  The  money  was  counted 
and  paid  over,  amid  the  shouts  of  the  troops  huzzaing 
for  Grant,  the  soldier’s  friend. 

He  remarked  to  those  about  him  : 

“I  will  teach  them,  if  they  need  the  lesson,  that  the 
men  who  have  perilled  their  lives  to  open  the  Mississippi 
Eiver  for  their  benefit,  cannot  be  imposed  upon  with 
impunity.” 


224 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


This  considerate,  magnanimous  regard  to  the  interests 
of  the  abused  soldiers,  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing,  attrac- 
tive features  of  General  Grant’s  character.  It  wins  con- 
fidence from  the  humblest  volunteer  in  his  command. 

The  General  is  no  politician,  if  that  word  means  more 
than  a loyal  citizen.  Like  all  conspicuous  men,  especially 
in  the  civil  war  of  our  country,  in  which  politics — by 
which  you  will  understand  party  success  and  office-seek- 
ing— have  been  a deadly  poison,  corrupting  and  threaten- 
ing the  very  life  of  the  nation,  he  was  not  unfrequently 
approached  on  the  subject  by  the  “ wire-pullers.”  A good 
story  or  two  went  abroad  from  his  headquarters  at  Vicks- 
burg. Professed  political  friends  paid  him  a visit,  and, 
after  a short  time  spent  in  compliments,  they  touched  upon 
the  never-ending  subject  of  politics.  One  of  the  party 
was  in  the  midst  of  a very  flowery  speech,  using  all  his 
rhetorical  powers  to  induce  the  General,  if  possible,  to 
view  matters  in  the  same  light  as  himself,  when  he  was 
suddenly  stopped  by  General  Grant : 

“ There  is  no  use  of  talking  politics  to  me.  I know 
nothing  about  them  ; and,  furthermore,  I do  not  know  of 
any  person  among  my  acquaintances  who  does.  But, 
continued  he,  “ there  is  one  subject  with  which  I am  per- 
fectly acquainted  ; talk  of  that,  and  I am  your  man.” 

“ What  is  that,  General  ? ” asked  the  politicians,  in 
great  surprise. 

“ Tanning  leather,”  was  the  reply. 

The  subject  was  immediately  changed. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


225 


On  another  occasion,  an  infamous  proposal  was  made 
by  a person  to  General  Grant,  while  he  was  staying  at  his 
headquarters  “ in  the  field.”  The  General,  irritated,  ad- 
ministered a severe  kick  to  the  proposer  with  the  toe  of 
his  great  cavalry  boot ; and,  after  the  fellow  had  been 
driven  from  the  tent,  one  of  his  staff  remarked  to  a com- 
panion, that  he  did  not  think  the  General  had  hurt  the 
rascal. 

“Never  fear,”  was  the  reply;  “that  boot  never  fails 
under  such  circumstances,  for  the  leather  came  from 
Grant’s  store,  in  Galena.” 

General  Grant  was  not  ashamed  of  his  origin.  Many, 
who  have  been  successful  in  making  money,  or  getting 
official  position,  meanly  try  to  hide  the  humble  beginning 
of  life  ; even  treating  with  scorn  relatives  who  remain  in  the 
obscurity  they  have  left.  This  is  never  seen  in  the  truly 
great,  or  justly  honored.  My  youthful  reader,  believe  and 
remember  this. 

The  great  centres  of  rebel  army  operations  in  Grant’s 
department  had  been  taken.  He  was  determined  to  clear 
it  entirely  of  the  enemy.  The  gallant  Admiral  Porter 
entered  into  the  plan  with  all  his  heart.  An  expedition 
was  started  to  Yazoo  City,  where  the  enemy  was  posted  ; 
another  to  Natchez,  where  supplies  were  crossing  to  the 
Eastern  army.  Thousands  of  heads  of  cattle  were  cap- 
tured, and  many  prisoners.  Like  brothers,  the  land  and 
the  naval  hero  sympathized  and  fought  together  for  the 
Republic,  and  accomplished  all  they  proposed  to  do. 
15 


226 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


They  speak  warmly  of  each  other  in  their  reports. 
Smaller  minds  would  hare  jarred  with  jealousy,  perhaps 
defeating  important  enterprises  by  discordant  counsels. 

"We  have  an  incident  which  affords  another  view  of 
the  character  of  the  hero  of  Vicksburg.  He  invited  a 
captive  major-general,  who  once  was  in  the  same  regiment 
with  him,  to  his  tent.  There  a free  conversation  was  had 
upon  the  brighter  past,  and  the  tragical  present.  When 
General  Grant  expressed  his  regret  to  find  him  in  the 
Confederate  service,  his  prisoner  replied  : 

“ Grant,  I tell  you  I ain’t  much  of  a rebel,  after  all ; 
and  when  I am  paroled,  I will  let  the  infernal  service  go 
to  the  mischief.” 

While  General  Grant’s  headquarters  were  at  Vicks- 
burg, several  interesting  scenes  enlivened  the  interlude  of 
exhausting  toil.  The  President  nominated  him  to  the 
office  of  Major-General,  and  the  commission  was  issued, 
bearing  date  of  July  4th,  1863.  The  officers  who  had 
served  under  him,  with  appropriate  ceremonies  presented 
him  a splendid  sword.  The  blade  was  of  finest  steel, 
the  scabbard  of  solid  silver,  elegantly  finished,  the  handle 
richly  carved  with  the  figure  of  a young  giant  crushing 
the  hydra,  rebellion  ; and  the  box,  on  whose  lid,  inside, 
was  wrought  his  name  with  crimson  silk,  was  made  of 
rosewood,  bound  with  ivory,  and  lined  with  velvet. 

An  expensive  present,  you  will  say.  Yes,  it  cost 
several  hundred  dollars ; but  was  worthily  bestowed,  and 
modestly  accepted. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


227 


But  now  we  turn  to  a domestic  view  of  the  warrior’s 
life. . His  excellent  wife,  who  had  patiently  waited  in  the 
distance  for  a victorious  pause  in  his  stormy  career,  em- 
braced the  moments  of  comparative  rest,  and  left  her 
home  for  his  camp.  With  a devoted  wife’s  just  pride,  she 
desired  not  only  to  see  him,  but  the  stronghold  which  had 
immortalized  his  name. 

Reaching  St.  Louis,  it  soon  became  known  that  she 
was  there.  A fine  band  gathered  to  the  hotel,  and  sere- 
naded the  lady,  who  sought  the  public  applause  no  more 
than  her  husband.  When  the  music  died  away,  three 
cheers  rang  out  for  General  Grant,  followed  by  as  many 
more  for  her.  Leaning  on  the  arm  of  Brigadier-General 
Strong,  he  responded  to  repeated  calls  for  a speech,  as 
follows  : 

“ Gentlemen  : I am  requested  by  Mrs.  Grant  to 
express  her  acknowledgments  for  the  honor  you  have  done 
her  on  this  occasion.  I know  well  that,  in  tendering  her 
thanks,  I express  your  sentiments,  when  I say  the  compli- 
ment through  her  to  her  noble  husband  is  one  merited  by 
a brave  and  great  man,  who  has  made  his  name  forever 
honored  and  immortal,  in  the  history  of  America’s  illustri- 
ous patriots,  living  or  dead.  Mrs.  Grant  does  not  desire, 
in  the  testimony  you  have  offered,  that  you  should  forget 
the  brave  and  gallant  officers  and  soldiers  who  have  so 
largely  assisted  in  bringing  about  the  glorious  result  which 
has  recently  caused  the  big  heart  of  our  nation  to  leap 
with  joy.  She  asks  you  also  to  stop  and  drop  a pensive 


228 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


tear  over  tlie  graves  of  the  noble  dead,  who  have  fallen  in 
the  straggle,  that  you  and  I,  and  all  of  us,  might  enjoy 
the  fruits  of  their  patriotic  devotion  to  a country  second 
to  none  on  the  earth.  We  trust  that  the  Mississippi  for- 
ever will  be  under  the  control  of  our  glorious  country. 
Mrs.  Grant  is  now  on  the  way  to  join  her  husband,  who, 
since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  has  not  asked  for  one 
day’s  absence.  He  has  not  found  time  to  be  sick.  With 
these  remarks  she  bids  you  good  night,  and  begs  that  you 
accept  her  thousand  thanks.” 

We  cannot  enter  the  seclusion  of  the  home  in  the  con- 
quered city,  and  hear  all  the  words  of  devotion  and  con- 
gratulation there,  which  came  in  like  seolian  harmony 
during  the  pauses  of  a tempest,  to  the  experience  of  the 
great  commander. 

Nothing  in  his  department  escaped  General  Grant’s 
careful  attention.  The  speculating  traders  with  the  rebels, 
guerillas  and  marauders,  and  especially  the  emancipated 
slaves,  were  objects  of  decided  action.  Warmly  sustain- 
ing the  proclamation  of  liberty,  he  demanded  the  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  rights  of  the  negroes  under  it,  and  their 
honorable  employment. 

Noble  man  ! Never  evading  a measure  of  the  Execu- 
tive, nor  chasing  back  a fugitive  to  his  master,  he  stood 
forth  the  protector  of  the  poor  and  dependent. 

He  personally  inspected  the  whole  field  of  command, 
and  aimed  at  thoroughness  in  all  his  official  conduct — a 
trait  of  character  any  one  who  desires  the  just  respect 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


229 


and  confidence  of  mankind,  and  substantial  success,  must 
possess.  The  pleasure  boat  goes  with  wind  and  tide  ; the 
steamer,  with  its  steadily  working  engine  beam,  moves,  if 
necessary,  against  both,  to  the  “ desired  haven.” 

But,  occasionally,  the  enthusiastic  people  compelled 
him  to  have  a part  of  a holiday,  at  least. 

Leaving  General  McPherson  in  command  of  Vicks- 
burg, he  went  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  his  survey  of  the 
districts  under  his  control.  The  citizens  met  him  with 
spontaneous  homage.  A committee  waited  upon  him,  and 
obtained  his  consent  to  the  public  honors  of  a festival  on  a 
grand  scale.  In  his  letter  of  acceptance,  he  said  : 

I thank  you,  too,  in  the  name  of  the  noble  army  which  I have  the 
honor  to  command.  It  is  composed  of  men  whose  loyalty  is  proved 
by  their  deeds  of  heroism  and  their  willing  sacrifices  of  life  and 
health.  They  will  rejoice  with  me  that  the  miserable  adherents  of 
the  rebellion,  whom  their  bayonets  have  driven  from  this  fair  land, 
are  being  replaced  by  men  who  acknowledge  human  liberty  as  the 
only  true  foundation  of  human  government.  May  your  efforts  to 
restore  your  city  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  be  as  successful  as  have 
been  theirs  to  reclaim  it  from  the  despotic  rule  of  the  leaders  of  the 
rebellion.  I have  the  honor  to  be,  gentlemen,  your  very  obedient 
servant, 

U.  S.  Grant. 


At  nine  o’clock  in  the  evening  of  August  26th,  amid 
thronging  guests,  with  a national  air  filling  the  spacioui 
halls,  General  Grant  entered  the  reception  room.  What  a 
rush  of  men  and  women  with  extended  hands  I An  hour 


230 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


of  such  enthusiastic  greeting  passed,  when,  leading  the 
long  lines  of  grateful  admirers,  the  hero  marched  through 
the  banqueting  hall,  and,  after  a glance  at  the  rich  and 
varied  abundance  in  tasteful  and  elegant  order,  he  took  his 
seat.  The  repast  was  followed  by  the  toasts  : 

“ The  United  States  of  America — They  have  one 
Constitution  and  Government.  May  they  have  one  grand 
destiny  while  human  institutions  endure.”  Responded  to 
by  Hon.  Chas.  Kortrecht. 

“ The  Army  and  Navy — Their  deeds  and  heroism  in 
this  war  will  be  the  noble  theme  of  poet  and  historian  in 
all  future  time.”  Responded  to  by  Adjutant- General 
Lorenzo  Thomas. 

“ General  Grant — The  guest  of  the  city.” 

This  was  the  signal  for  the  wildest  applause,  and  it 
was  some  minutes  before  order  could  be  restored.  It  was 
expected  that  General  Grant  would  be  brought  to  his  feet 
by  this ; but  the  company  were  disappointed,  upon  per- 
ceiving that,  instead,  his  place  was  taken  by  his  staff  sur- 
geon, Dr.  Hewitt,  who  remarked  : 

“ I am  instructed  by  General  Grant  to  say,  that,  as  he 
has  never  been  given  to  public  speaking,  you  will  have  to 
excuse  him  on  this  occasion ; and,  as  I am  the  only  mem- 
ber of  his  staff  present,  I therefore  feel  it  my  duty  to 
thank  you  for  this  manifestation  of  your  good  will,  as  also 
the  numerous  other  kindnesses  of  which  he  has  been  the 
recipient  ever  since  his  arrival  among  you.  General 
Grant  believes  that,  in  all  he»has  done,  he  has  no  more 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


231 


than  accomplished  a duty,  and  one,  too,  for  which  no  par- 
ticular honor  is  due.  But  the  world,  as  you  do,  will 
accord  otherwise.” 

The  Doctor  then  proposed,  at  General  Grant’s  request : 

“The  officers  of  the  different  staffs,  and  the  non-com- 
missioned officers  and  privates  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee.” 

“ The  Federal  Union — It  must  and  will  he  preserved.” 
Responded  to  by  Major-General  S.  A.  Hurlbut. 

“ The  Old  Flag — May  its  extinguished  stars,  rekindled 
by  the  sacred  flame  of  human  liberty,  continue  to  shine 
forever  undiminished  in  number,  and  undimmed  in  splen- 
dor.” Brigadier-General  Veatch. 

“ The  President  of  the  United  States — He  must  be 
sustained.”  Colonel  J.  TV".  Fuller. 

“ The  Star-spangled  Banner  ” was  here  sung,  the 
whole  party  joining  in  the  chorus. 

“ The  Loyal  Men  of  Tennessee — Their  devotion  to 
the  Union,  the  cause  of  republican  government  and  con- 
stitutional liberty,  is  like  gold  tried  seven  times  by  fire.” 
Mr.  J.  M.  Tomeny. 

The  remainder  of  the  toasts  were  of  a local  character, 
with  the  exception  of  the  closing  one,  which  was  as 
follows  : 

“ General  Grant — Your  Grant  and  my  Grant.  Hav- 
ing granted  us  victories,  grant  us  the  restoration  of  the 
‘ Old  Flag ; ’ grant  us  supplies,  so  that  we  may  grant  to 
our  friends  the  grant  to  us.” 


232 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


The  festivities  were  kept  up  until  near  three  o’clocl  in 
the  morning,  when  General  Grant  withdrew  from  die 
room. 

A poem  was  also  read  by  Dr.  Morris,  of  which  are 
given  the  lines  referring  to  General  Grant’s  work  on  the 
Mississippi : 

The  Mississippi  closed — that  mighty  stream 
Found  by  De  Soto,  and  by  Fulton  won  ! 

One  thought  to  chain  him  ! Ignominious  thought ! 

But  then  the  grand  old  monarch  shook  his  locks, 

And  burst  his  fetters  like  a Samson  freed  ! 

The  heights  were  crowned  with  ramparts  sheltering  those 
Whose  treason  knew  no  bounds ; the  frowning  forts 
Belched  lightnings,  and  the  morning  gun 
A thousand  miles  told  mournfully  the  tale, 

The  Mississippi  closed. 

Not  long.  From  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts  was  sent 
A leader,  who  with  patient  vigil  planned 
A great  deliverance.  Height  by  height  was  gained, 

Island  and  hill  and  woody  bank  and  cliff. 

Month  followed  month,  till,  on  our  natal  day, 

The  last  great  barrier  fell ; and  never  more 
The  sire  of  waters  shall  obstruction  know  ! 

Now,  with  De  Soto’s  name,  and  Fulton’s,  see 
The  greater  name  of  Grant ! 

Our  children’s  children,  noble  Grant,  shall  sing 
That  great  deliverance  ! On  the  floods  of  spring 
Thy  name  shall  sparkle  ; smiling  commerce  tell 
Thy  great  achievement,  which  restores  the  chain, 

Never  again  to  break,  which  makes  us  one. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


General  Grant  at  New  Orleans — His  simplicity  in  Dress — Reviews  the  Thir- 
teenth Army  Corps — Sad  Accident — Recovers  from  the  serious  Injuries 
—He  cares  for  the  Soldier  in  little  things— A new  and  larger  Command — 
Chickamauga  and  Chattanooga— An  amusing  Incident— The  feelings  of 
th*e  Rebels— General  Grant  at  Chattanooga— Clearing  the  Track— Jeff. 
Davis  on  Lookout. 


^sag^HE  first  day  of  autumn,  1863,  General  Grant 
was  sailing  toward  New  Orleans — was  near  tire 
Crescent  City,  so  recently  cut  off  from  liis  dis- 
tant Vicksburg. 

September  3d,  the  announcement  was  made 
that  the  Father  of  Waters  was  opened  for  trade,  limited 
only  by  the  determination  to  prevent  any  traffic  that 
would  help  the  rebels. 

The  next  morning  lights  up  a splendid  pageant. 
From  St.  Charles  Hotel,  mark  that  cavalcade  of  officers 
mounted  amid  the  gathering  thousands  anxious  to  look  on 
the  central  object  of  universal  interest.  Away  the  horse- 
men dash ! But  which  is  the  hero  of  the  day  ? Turn 
your  eye  from  dazzling  uniforms,  to  that  man  of  ordinary 
aspect,  “ in  undress  uniform,  without  sword,  sash,  or  belt, 


234 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


coat  unbuttoned,  a low-crowned  black  felt  bat,  without  any 
mark  upon  it  of  military  rank,”  and  you  see  Major-Gen- 
eral Grant.  Through  streets  lined  with  spectators,  they 
gallop  into  the  country  toward  Carrollton,  to  review  the 
Thirteenth  Army  Corps.  While  passing  back  and  forth 
on  the  field  of  splendid  military  display,  his  strange 
steed  makes  a sudden  dash,  and  throws  the  illustrious 
rider.  Consternation  passes  over  the  multitudes.  It  was 
no  trivial  accident.  Bruised,  and  with  broken  bones,  he  is 
borne  on  a litter  to  the  steamer  “ Franklin,”  and  carried 
to  New  Orleans.  A whole  month  he  was  in  the  surgeon’s 
care.  It  was  well  that  he  escaped  with  no  more  serious 
results  of  the  fall,  and  an  occasion  for  gratitude  to  the 
God  of  our  fathers,  who  spared  him  to  the  endangered 
land  they  gave  us. 

While  only  partially  recovered,  with  the  aid  of  a 
crutch  and  cane,  he  embarked  on  his  voyage  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi. He,  like  Washington,  was  careful  in  little  things. 
Who  but  himself  would  have  thought  it  worth  the  while 
to  regulate  the  fare  from  Cairo  to  New  Orleans,  to  save 
the  soldiers  from  unjust  charges?  Not  only  so,  but  he 
ordered  that  “ enlisted  men  be  entitled  to  travel  as  cabin 
passengers,  when  they  desire  it,  at  the  same  rates.”  The 
“ boys  ” were  not  to  be  thrust  into  the  hold,  or  on  deck,  but 
must  be  treated  like  men.  He  required  the  “ officers  in 
the  inspector-general’s  department  to  report  any  neglect  ” 
to  pay  the  soldiers  promptly.  He  went  further  still.  Be- 
sides a just  and  kind  jurisdiction  established  in  and  around 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


235 


Vicksburg,  he  had  General  McPherson  issue  a general 
order,  beginning  thus  : 

“ In  order  to  encourage  and  reward  the  meritorious 
and  faithful  officers  and  men  of  this  corps,  a ‘ Medal  of 
Honor,’  with  appropriate  device,  has  been  prepared,  and 
will  be  presented  by  a ‘ Board  of  Honor,’  of  which  the 
Major-General  commanding  is  the  advisory  member,  to  all 
those  who,  by  their  gallantry  in  action  and  other  soldier- 
like qualities,  have  most  distinguished  themselves,  or  who 
may  hereafter  most  distinguish  themselves  during  the 
war.” 

It  was  an  appropriate  expression  of  his  regard  for  dis- 
tinguished bravery. 

“The  design  of  the  medals  was  a blending  of  the 
crescent,  a star,  and  a shield ; the  base  being  formed  of 
the  crescent,  to  the  two  extremities  of  which  was  fixed 
the  star,  while  pendent  from  its  lower  point  was  suspended 
a shield.  Upon  the  crescent  the  words,  ‘ Vicksburg,  July 
4,  1863.’  The  object  in  the  presentation  of  these  badges 
was  to  reward  the  meritorious  members  of  the  Seventeenth 
Corps  for  conspicuous  valor  on  the  field  of  battle  or 
endurance  in  the  march.  This  famous  corps,  since  its 
organization,  had  been  foremost  in  duty  and  deeds  of 
glory  throughout  the  entire  campaign  against  Vicksburg, 
and  no  better  method  could  have  been  adopted  to  continue 
in  the  future  the  same  excellent  spirit  of  emulation  for 
which  it  has  always  been  celebrated,  both  on  the  part  of 
officers  and  men.” 


236 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


A new  and  wider  command,  with  gigantic  work,  now 
opens  before  General  Grant.  Look  away  from  Vicks- 
burg, a long  distance  northeast,  into  Southeastern  Tennes- 
see, and  you  will  notice,  on  the  Western  and  Atlantic 
Railroad,  eighteen  miles  apart,  Chickamauga  and  Chatta- 
nooga. The  Tennessee  River  flows  near,  and  railways 
run  among  the  wild  summits  which  guard  glorious  valleys, 
and  make  some  of  the  finest  scenery  in  the  world. 
Every  young  person  should  know  something  of  this  inter- 
esting country.  We  find,  on  a stray  sheet,  a good  de- 
scription of  it : 

“ Chickamauga  comprehends  a considerable  district 
extending  up  and  down  a creek  of  that  name,  which 
empties  into  the  Tennessee  River,  near  Chattanooga,  run- 
ning a northwest  course.  Seven  miles  in  a direct  line  up 
this  creek,  or  fifteen  following  its  course,  was  located 
Brainard,  the  first  missionary  station  established  by  the 
American  Board  among  the  Cherokee  Indians,  in  1817. 
In  this  region,  this  tribe  held  a territory  of  twelve  thou- 
sand square  miles,  or  eight  million  acres,  guaranteed  to 
them  by  the  United  States,  two  thirds  of  which  lay  in 
Georgia.  Brainard  was  situated  on  the  west  side  of  this 
creek.  On  the  same  side  is  situated  the  ridge  of  land  now 
called  Missionary  Ridge,  doubtless  from  the  circumstance 
that  the  missionary  station  was  in  that  neighborhood. 
This  station  comprised  a farm  of  forty-five  acres,  which 
was  cultivated  by  the  mission  in  order  to  introduce  among 
the  Indians  habits  of  industry  and  of  a civilized  life* 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


237 


Lookout  Mountain  is  seven  miles  due  west  from  Brainard. 
From  its  summit  a magnificent  landscape  is  open  to  view, 
extending  over  the  surrounding  country,  and  even  to  the 
Blue  Ridge. 

“ This  was  the  Cherokee’s  favorite  hunting  ground. 
Over  it  the  State  of  Georgia  extended  her  laws,  and  im- 
prisoned the  missionaries  who  refused  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  them.  The  United  States  also  took  the  eight 
million  acres  of  land,  paying  them  only  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  removing  them  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi. The  injustice  and  suffering  attending  their  removal 
is  little  known  to  the  present  generation.  The  mission- 
aries were  dragged  from  their  fields  of  labor  by  the  armed 
soldiers  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  treated  with  great  indig- 
nity, and  immured  in  the  penitentiary  for  a year  and  four 
months.  In  the  meantime,  the  lands  of  the  Cherokees 
were  surveyed  and  divided  into  farms  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres  each,  and  distributed  by  lottery  among  the 
inhabitants  of  the  State.  Counties  were  organized,  magis- 
trates appointed,  and  courts  held,  and  the  number  of 
whites  who  crowded  into  the  territory  exceeded  that  of 
the  Indians.  There  were  men  who  took  every  means  to 
draw  the  Indians  into  intemperance  and  debauchery. 
When  the  time  for  removal,  by  a treaty  negotiated  by  a 
portion  of  the  chiefs,  came,  families  were  taken  from  their 
houses  and  farms,  leaving  their  furniture  and  flocks,  and 
marched  under  strong  guards  to  camps  selected  as  starting 
places ; and  such  were  the  hardships  of  the  journey  to 


238 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


their  new  homes,  that  one  fourth  of  the  nation  died  on  the 
way. 

“Is  it  strange  that  God  should  visit  the  iniquities  of 
the  fathers  upon  the  children  of  this  very  region,  where  so 
much  injustice  and  wrong  had  been  inflicted  upon  a people 
who  had  ever  been  the  firm  friends  of  the  white  man,  and 
who  were  laying  aside  the  pursuits  of  the  chase,  aud  were 
fast  becoming  a civilized  and  Christian  people  ? ” 

While  General  Grant  was  a suffering  invalid,  Septem- 
ber 19th,  General  Rosecrans,  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland,  met  General  Bragg  at  Chickamauga, 
and,  after  a desperate  conflict,  was  glad  to  retreat  to  Chat- 
tanooga, unpursued  by  his  successful  enemy.  General 
Sherman,  from  General  Grant’s  department,  commenced 
moving  oyer  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad,  Octo- 
ber 11th,  toward  that  position,  to  help  General  Rosecrans. 
He  had  a hard  fight  with  hostile  troops,  but  reached  Chat- 
tanooga. 

On  the  17th,  General  Grant  met  General  Halleck, 
from  Washington,  according  to  a telegram  from  him,  at 
Indianapolis.  After  the  usual  salutations,  General  Hal- 
leck handed  him  a general  order,  putting  him  in  command 
of  the  “ Departments  of  the  Ohio,  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
of  the  Tennessee,  constituting  the  Military  Division  of  the 
Mississippi.” 

General  Grant  now  held  the  most  extensive  military 
rule  on  all  the  field  of  civil  war.  The  great  belt  between 
the  eastern  boundaries  of  Alabama  and  Tennessee  and  those 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


239 


of  Illinois  and  Indiana,  down  to  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf,  was  under  his  control.  It  was  a magnificent  com- 
mand, and  another  stride  in  his  rapid  advancement. 
Around  him,  as  subordinate  officers,  were  to  stand  Gen- 
erals Sherman,  Thomas — who  succeeded  Rosecrans — Burn- 
side, and  Hooker.  General  Halleck  accompanied  Gen- 
eral Grant  to  Louisville. 

An  amusing  scene  now  transpires.  The  Galt  House 
is  the  principal  hotel,  and  there  the  crowd  are  gathered. 
Tall  and  swarthy  Kentuckians,  old  soldiers  of  the  Union, 
women  and  children,  stand  in  every  place  which  affords  a 
glimpse  of  the  hero.  Among  the  gazing  countrymen,  a 
stalwart  son  of  Kentucky  stares  a moment  at  him,  and 
then  exclaims : 

“ Well,  that’s  Grant ! I thought  he  was  a large  man. 
He  would  be  considered  a small  chance  of  a fighter  if  he 
lived  in  Kentucky.” 

The  mighty  host  of  General  Bragg,  under  Generals 
Longstreet  and  Hill,  with  Joe  Johnston’s  thirty  thousand 
troops  ready  to  cooperate,  thought  the  Union  army  was 
securely  locked  up  at  Chattanooga.  A newspaper,  refer- 
ring to  General  Rosecrans’s  removal,  and,  in  his  place,  the 
appointment  of  Generals  Grant  and  Thomas,  stated,  the 
Government  had  supplanted  a hero  with  two  fools.  The 
President  remarked  : “ If  one  fool  like  Grant  can  do  so 
much  work,  and  win  as  profitable  victories  as  he,  he  had 
no  objection  to  two  of  them,  as  they  would  be  likely  to 
wipe  out  the  rebellion.”  Hear  the  loud  words  of  the 
Atlanta  Rebel : 


240 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“The  Yankee  Army  of  the  Cumberland  holds  the 
door  to  lower  East  Tennessee,  and  this  door  we  must 
leave  open.  * * * If  we  continue  to  gaze  listlessly 

from  the  bold  knobs  of  Missionary  Ridge  upon  the  com- 
fortable barracks  of  the  Federals  below,  then  may  we 
tremble  for  the  next  campaign ; for,  as  sure  as  there  is 
any  surety  in  the  future,  the  spring  of  1864  must  see  us 
far  from  the  borders  of  Georgia,  or  near  to  the  verge  of 
destruction.  Nail  it  to  your  doorposts,  men  of  the  South, 
and  refuse  to  be  deluded  into  any  other  belief ! Food  and 
raiment  are  our  needs.  "We  must  have  them.  Kentucky 
and  Middle  Tennessee  can  only  supply  them.  Better  give 
up  the  seacoast,  better  give  up  the  Southwest,  ay,  better 
to  give  up  Richmond  without  a struggle,  and  wdn  these, 
than  lose  the  golden  field,  whose  grain  and  wool  are  our 
sole  hope.  The  enemy  has  just  one  army  too  many  in 
the  field  for  us.  W e must  criish  this  overplus ; we  must 
gain  one  signal  Stonewall  Jackson  campaign.  Destiny 
points  to  the  very  place.  And  how  ? Nothing  easier. 
The  bee  which  has  really  stung  our  flank  so  long,  once 
disposed  of,  our  triumphant  legions  have  a clear  road  be- 
fore them.  Fed  sumptuously  through  the  winter,  wrell 
shod  and  clad,  they  have  only  to  meet  a dispirited  foe, 
retake  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  secure  the  election  of 
a P.eace  Democrat  to  the  Presidency  in  the  fall,  and 
arrange  the  terms  of  treaty  and  independence.  These 
results  can  be  accomplished  nowhere  else  than  in  this  de- 
partment. The  Northwest  is  our  real  adversary.” 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


241 


October  23  d,  General  Grant  reached  Chattanooga. 
Wrote  a Union  soldier  of  the  sad  condition  of  things 
there : 

“ I confess  I do  not  see  any  very  brilliant  prospects  for 
continuing  alive  in  it  all  this  winter,  unless  something 
desperate  be  done.  While  the  army  sits  here,  hungry, 
chilly,  watching  the  ‘ key  to  Tennessee,’  the  ‘ good  dog  ’ 
Bragg  lies  over  against  us,  licking  his  Chickamauga  sores 
without  whine  or  growl.  He  will  not  reply  to  our  occa- 
sional shots  from  Star  Fort,  Fort  Crittenden,  or  the  Moc- 
casin Point  batteries  across  the  river ; has  forbidden  the 
exchange  of  newspapers  and  the  compliments  of  the  day 
between  pickets ; lias  returned  surly  answers  to  flag-of- 
truce  messages ; in  fact,  has  cut  us  dead. 

“ The  mortality  among  the  horses  and  mules  is  fright- 
ful to  contemplate.  Their  corpses  line  the  road,  and  taint 
the  air,  all  along  the  Bridgeport  route.  In  these  days, 
hereabouts,  it  is  within  the  scope  of  the  most  obtuse  to 
distinguish  a quartermaster  or  staff  officer,  by  a casual 
glance  at  the  animal  he  strides.  ‘ He  has  the  fatness  of 
twenty  horses  upon  bis  ribs,’  as  Squeers  remarked  of  little 
Wackford  ; ‘ and  so  he  has.  God  help  the  others.’ 

“ I am  assured  this  state  of  things  will  not  last  long ; 
that  hordes  of  men  are  energetically  at  work  improving 
our  means  of  communication,  and  that  we  soon  shall  be 
benefited  by  the  overflowing  plenty  of  the  North.  The 
vigor  and  good  spirits  of  the  army,  all  this  time,  are  de- 
veloped in  a most  astonishing  manner. 

16 


242 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ Major-General  Grant,  who  presides  over  the  destinies 
of  this,  among  other  armies,  reached  Chattanooga  to-day.” 

That  state  of  things  did  not  last  long.  The  great 
trouble  was,  to  get  supplies.  The  valley  route  of  travel 
lay  under  the  guns  of  Lookout  Mountain.  So  the  poor 
horses  and  mules  had  to  drag  the  heavy  wagons  among 
the  mountains,  through  mud  and  over  Alpine  ridges,  by 
slow  and  exhausting  stages. 

General  Grant,  soon  after  his  arrival,  was  riding  with 
Quartermaster-General  Meigs  along  the  highways,  bor- 
dered with  carcasses  and  skeletons,  when  they  passed  the 
decaying  body  of  a gigantic  mule.  “ Ah,  General,”  said 
Grant,  with  affected  sadness,  “ there  lies  a dead  soldier  of 
the  Quartermaster’s  Department.”  “Yes,  General,”  re- 
sponded Meigs,  with  equal  gravity ; “ in  him  you  see 
‘ the  ruling  passion  strong  in  death  ’ exemplified ; for  the 
old  veteran  has  already  assumed  the  offensive." 

Thus,  like  moonlight  across  black  storm-clouds,  breaks 
the  humor  and  wit  of  great  minds  upon  the  grim  aspect 
of  war. 

Generals  Hooker  and  Smith  were  sent  to  cut  a way 
through  Lookout  Yalley  to  meet  an  expedition  which 
started  at  midnight,  October  26th,  near  Bridgeport,  Ala., 
in  fifty-six  boats.  Only  a few  officers  knew  the  destina- 
tion. What  a sail  was  that ! The  moon,  over  whose 
face  drift  occasional  clouds,  shines  down  on  the  Ten- 
nessee. The  boats  move  a few  miles,  and  reach  the 
enemy’s  lines.  Then  comes  old  Lookout,  its  rough  sides 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


243 


ablaze  -with  hostile  signal  torches,  and  crowned  with  bat- 
teries. To  get  past  and  join  the  other  forces,  and  clear  a 
path  for  supplies,  is  the  perilous  voyage  before  them. 
Oars  are  dropped,  and  the  fourteen  hundred  men,  hold- 
ing breath  in  suspense,  keep  their  pontoons  close  to  the 
banks.  Slowly  the  spectres  float  under  the  mountains 
deep  shadow.  No  sound  but  a rebel  picket’s  snatch  of 
song  from  the  summit  ready  to  pour  down  lightning  and 
iron  hail,  is  heard  in  the  awful  solitude.  The  moments 
seem  hours.  And  now  the  silent  flotilla  emerges  into 
moonbeams,  and  the  brave  fellows  draw  a long  breath  of 
relief.  The  passage  is  made.  Landing,  under  the  gallant 
Hazen  and  Geary,  they  fight  their  way  along,  and, 
making  a junction  with  Hooker  and  Smith,  at  the  base 
of  Lookout,  the  Bridgeport  route  is  cleared  of  rebel  rule. 
The  famine  is  soon  relieved,  and  affairs  at  Chattanooga 
wear  a brighter  aspect. 

About  this  time,  Jeff.  Davis,  it  is  said,  visited  the  for- 
tress on  the  lofty  summit,,  which  seemed  to  defy  attack. 
His  vulture  eye  swept  the  circle  of  the  magnificent  view, 
covering  a part  of  four  States.  And  we  may  believe, 
with  something  like  the  exultation  of  Satan  when  he 
showed  the  Messiah  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  he  re- 
marked to  General  Pemberton,  when  his  gaze  came  back 
to  General  Grant’s  army,  in  the  distance,  working  on  the 
fortifications : 

“ I have  them  now  in  just  the  trap  I set  for  them.” 

Pemberton  turned  to  Jeff.  Davis,  and  replied: 


244 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ Mr.  Davis,  you  are  Commander-in-Chief,  and  you  are 
here.  You  think  the  enemy  are  in  a trap,  and  can  be 
captured  by  vigorous  assault.  I have  been  blamed  for  not 
having  ordered  a general  attack  on  the  enemy  when  they 
were  drawing  around  me  their  lines  of  circumvallation  at 
Vicksburg.  Do  you  now  order  an  attack  upon  those 
troops  down  there  below  us,  and  I will  set  you  my  life 
that  not  one  man  of  the  attacking  column  will  ever  come 
back  across  that  valley,  except  as  a prisoner.” 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


Preparations  for  Battle  again— The  successful  Trap— The  brave  Advance 
of  General  Wood— The  Contest  opened — The  Three  Days’  Fight — Gen- 
eral Hooker  above  the  Clouds — General  Grant’s  Despatch — General 
Bragg’s — General  Meigs’s  Despatch — General  Grant  at  the  Coffin  of 
Colonel  O’Meara. 

jHE  Chief  began  in  quiet  earnest  to  prepare  for 


an  attack  on  Chattanooga.  Drill  and  parade 
were  frequent  in  front  of  our  fortifications,  and 
within  full  view  of  the  enemy.  General  Grant, 
not  yet  perfectly  well,  was  daily  seen  walking 


“ to  and  fro  up  the  streets  of  the  town,  unattended,  many 
times  unobserved,  but  at  all  times  observing.”  To  stop 
raids  and  personal  violence,  he  issued  an  order  to  hold 
secessionists  responsible  for  injury  done,  imprisoning  host- 
ages when  our  people  were  injured,  and  taking  property  in 
return  for  losses  in  our  lines. 

In  vain  General  Longstreet  tried  to  swing  around  the 
rear  of  the  Union  army  east  of  Chattanooga,  and  move 
on  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  before  the  noble  Burnside  was  at 
hand,  and  ready  to  set  the  trap  General  Grant  had  made 


246 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


for  the  rebel  commander.  General  Burnside  met  Long- 
street,  and,  after  some  resistance,  gave  way. 

November  14th  and  15th,  the  enemy  was  beaten  back, 
and  then  our  “ boys  ” retreated,  leading  him  on  to  Knox- 
ville, across  the  Little  Tennessee  River. 

On  the  19th,  General  Burnside  had  got  within  the 
defences  of  the  city,  and  General  Longstreet  was  invest- 
ing it.  The  traitor  thought  he  had  caught  the  defenders 
of  the  Republic ; General  Grant  knew  he  had  him  just 
where  he  desired  to  hold  him  a while.  All  the  time,  the 
watchful  eye  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Military 
Division  of  the  Mississippi  was  on  Missionary  Ridge  and 
Lookout  Mountain— the  vital  defences  of  the  enemy. 

Weakened  by  the  withdrawal  of  Longstreet’s  force, 
and  with  the  troops  left  spread  along  the  Ridge,.  General 
Grant  believed  that,  by  keeping  the  extremities  busy  in 
the  fight,  he  could  break  through  the  centre  of  those  lines 
seven  miles  long.  The  generals  were  posted  on  the  right 
and  left  flanks,  and  at  the  centre,  ready  to  make  the  bold 
attack  on  the  21st,  But  General  Sherman  was  delayed  in 
his  movements  by  rains,  and  the  ruin  of  pontoons,  against 
which  the  rebels  sent  down  rafts ; and  two  days  inter- 
vened before  the  grand  trial  of  strength  could  be  made. 

The  23d  of  November  came.  It  was  Monday  morn- 
ing. The  previous  day,  prayer  and  praise  had  been  heard 
in  camp.  The  chaplains,  and  other  Christian  workers  for 
the  spiritual  good  of  the  soldiers,  had  kindly  spoken  to 
them  of  the  glorious  “ Captain  of  our  salvation.”  The 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


247 


faces  of  brave  men  had  been  wet  with  tears,  as  they 
thought  of  home  and  the  loved  ones  there.  Many  letters 
had  been  written  with  the  feeling  that  they  might  be  the 
last  messages  of  affection  from  the  field  of  conflict. 

The  orders  pass  from  General  Grant's  headquarters  to 
advance  toward  the  Ridge,  alive  with  vigilant  enemies. 
The  preeminent  strategy  of  the  Leader  was  apparent  in 
the  very  method  of  opening  the  struggle.  The  columns 
marched  from  their  works  as  if  on  parade.  Banners  were 
borne,  and  bands  played,  and  the  whole  aspect  of  the 
embattled  host  was  that  of  ordinary  review.  The  de- 
ceived foe  looked  down  with  comparative  indifference, 
from  heights  five  hundred  feet  above.  But  onward  toward 
the  rifle  pits,  and  to  an  advanced  position,  our  forces 
pressed,  till  too  late  for  the  enemy  to  send  to  their  camps 
for  reenforcements. 

At  half  past  one  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  General 
Wood  leaves  Fort  Wood  with  his  tried  battalions.  Watch 
him,  as  he  goes  down  the  slope  to  the  open  plain  between 
him  and  the  forest  skirting  Missionary  Ridge.  From  the 
battlements  of  the  fortress,  General  Grant,  with  Thomas, 
Granger,  and  Howard  by  his  side,  is  looking  on  with 
interest  too  intense  for  any  other  language  than  that  of 
silence.  The  heavy  guns  from  those  ramparts  send  to  the 
eminences  in  the  enemy’s  foreground,  and  over  the  brave 
ranks  advancing,  the  thunder  and  the  messengers  of 
death.  The  columns  reach  the  plain.  The  battle  storm 
beats  down  upon  them  ; but  steadily,  as  though  on  ordi- 


248 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


nary  march,  they  move  on,  under  the  eye  of  their  fearless 
commander,  and  of  the  chieftains  on  the  walls  of  the  fort. 
They  march  like  men  who  mean  to  gladden  the  sight  of 
beholders,  and  the  land  they  love.  Now  they  enter  the 
dark  woods.  The  moments  fly,  and  a blue  smoke  rises 
from  the  sheltering  trees,  and  floats  like  a banner  toward 
Missionary  Ridge.  A hum  of  excitement  and  delight 
spreads  along  the  battlements  of  Fort  Wood,  and  rises 
from  loyal,  heroic  lips  in  every  part  of  it.  * The  foes 
dash  into  Wood’s  front,  but  the  shock  is  well  sustained. 
Then,  a charge  i Up  the  slope  rushes  the  steel-pointed 
surge.  “ Orchard  Knob  ” is  taken,  the  rifle  pits  cleared, 
and  the  decisive  contest  fairly  opened. 

The  next  gloomy  day  of  drizzling  rain  brought  a re- 
newal of  the  fight.  An  observer  of  the  attack  ordered 
by  General  Sherman,  furnishes  you  with  an  interesting 
view  of  the  troops  on  the  eve  of  battle  : 

“ Soldiers  are  very  different  beings  under  the  two  dif- 
ferent circumstances  of  receiving  and  making  an  attack. 
In  the  first  case  they  are  seldom  or  never  composed,  cool, 
and  quiet.  Put  men  behind  breastworks  to  receive  an 
assault,  and  the  delay  in  the  attack  creates  anxiety,  which 
develops  into  mental  excitement,  which  finds  vent  in  noise 
and  a certain  restlessness  of  person.  Going  to  the  assault, 
they  are  different  beings.  I watched  carefully  the  col- 
umns, as  they  moved  out  to  the  assault  on  Tuesday,  each 
believing  that  the  next  step  brought  his  advance  against 
that  of  the  enemy.  The  silence  was  painfully  noticeable. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


249 


A command  given  at  one  end  of  the  corps,  could  be  dis- 
tinctly heard  at  the  other.  The  men  looked  serious,  and 
rather  gruff,  and  were  painfully  quiet.  They  conversed 
with  each  other  but  seldom,  and  then  in  under  tones.  All 
appeared  anxious  to  preserve  their  weapons  from  the  rain. 
They  moved  in  perfect  order.  But  though  one  might  fail 
to  notice  this,  the  most  casual  student  of  human  nature 
could  hardly  fail  to  observe  how  serious  those  men  were-. 
And  he  would  know,  too,  that  it  was  not  the  rain  which 
dampened  their  spirits.  Ever  and  anon  they  would  glance 
at  the  hill  which  they  were  approaching,  and  it  was  easy 
to  see  why  they  looked  serious.  Perhaps  they  compared 
the  hills,  in  their  own  minds,  to  the  Walnut  Hills  of 
Vicksburg ; but  I do  not  think  there  was  one  man  there 
who  feared  to  test  the  question  of  victory  or  defeat  there 
and  then.” 

For  three  days  the  field  of  the  strife  for  miles  exhib- 
ited the  varying  fortunes  and  awfully  sublime  scenes  of 
valor  and  blood,  of  warfare  unrivalled  in  the  annals  of  the 
past.  Near  Fort  Buckner,  the  Union  Brigade,  under  a 
rocky  ridge  which  protected  them  from  bullets,  met  a 
shower  of  stones  hurled  upon  them  from  above. 

Notwithstanding  General  Grant’s  accident  at  Carroll- 
ton, no  better  horseman  drew  the  rein  in  either  army.  It 
was  a common  thing  on  the  bloody  field  of  Chattanooga, 
to  see  his  steed,  touched  with  the  spur,  dash  off  at  a pace 
that  left  his  staff  stringing  along  behind,  “ like  the  tail  of 
a kite.”  He  went  with  the  speed  of  the  wind  from  one 
part  of  the  hail-swept  plain  to  another. 


250 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


My  youthful  reader,  would  you  have  liked  to  stand 
in  some  safe  spot,  and  witness  the  grand  and  terrible 
combat  ? 

You  can  never  come  nearer  to  such  a view,  than  by 
reading  the  finest  account  of  this,  or  any  other  battle.  It 
was  written  by  an  eyewitness,  B.  F.  Taylor,  for  the 
Chicago  Journal : 

“ The  iron  heart  of  Sherman’s  column  began  to  be 
audible,  like  the  fall  of  great  trees  in  the  depth  of  the 
forest,  as  it  beat  beyond  the  woods  on  the  extreme  left. 
Over  roads  indescribable,  and  conquering  lions  of  difficul- 
ties that  met  him  all  the  way,  he  had  at  length  arrived 
with  his  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  The 
roar  of  his  guns  was  like  the  striking  of  a great  clock, 
and  grew  nearer  and  louder  as  the  morning  wore  away. 
Along  the  centre  all  was  still.  Our  men  lay  as  they  had 
lain  since  Tuesday  night-motionless,  behind  the  works. 
Generals  Grant,  Thomas,  Granger,  Meigs,  Hunter,  Rey- 
nolds, were  grouped  at  Orchard  Knob,  here ; Bragg, 
Breckinridge,  Hardee,  Stevens,  Cleburn,  Bates,  Walker, 
were  waiting  on  Mission  Ridge,  yonder.  And  the  North- 
ern clock  tolled  on  ! At  noon,  a pair  of  steamers,  scream- 
ing in  the  river  across  the  town,  telling  over,  in  their  own 
wild  way,  cur  mountain  triumph  on  the  right,  pierced  the 
hushed  breadth  of  air  between  two  lines  of  battle  with  a 
note  or  two  of  the  music  of  peaceful  life. 

“At  one  o’clock  the  signal  flag  at  Fort  Wood  was 
a-flutter.  Scanning  the  horizon,  another  flag,  glancing 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


251 


like  a lady’s  handkerchief,  showed  white  across  a field 
lying  high  and  dry  upon  the  ridge  three  miles  to  the 
northeast,  and  answered  hack.  The  centre  and  Sherman’s 
corps  had  spoken.  As  the  hour  went  by,  all  semblance  to 
falling  tree  and  tolling  clock  had  vanished ; it  was  a 
rattling  roar  ; the  ring  of  Sherman’s  panting  artillery,  and 
the  fiery  gust  from  the  rebel  guns  on  Tunnel  Hill,  the 
point  of  Mission  Eidge.  The  enemy  had  massed  there 
the  corps  of  Hardee  and  Buckner,  as  upon  a battlement, 
utterly  inaccessible  save  by  one  steep,  narrow  way,  com 
manded  by  their  guns.  A thousand  men  could  hold  it 
against  a host.  And  right  in  front  of  this  bold  abutment 
of  the  ridge  is  a broad,  clear  field,  skirted  by  woods. 
Across  this  tremendous  threshold,  up  to  death’s  door, 
moved  Sherman’s  column.  Twice  it  advanced,  and  twice 
I saw  it  swept  back  in  bleeding  lines  before  the  furnace 
blast,  until  that  russet  field  seemed  some  strange  page 
ruled  thick  with  blue  and  red.  Bright  valor  was  in  vain ; 
they  lacked  the  ground  to  stand  on ; they  wanted,  like  the 
giant  of  old  story,  a touch  of  earth  to  make  them  strong. 
It  was  the  devil's  own  corner.  Before  them  was  a lane, 
whose  upper  end  the  rebel  cannon  swallowed.  Moving 
by  the  right  hank,  nature  opposed  them  with  precipitous 
heights.  There  was  nothing  for  ir  but  straight  across  the 
field,  swept  by  an  enfilading  fire,  and  up  to  the  lane,  down 
which  drove  the  storm.  They  could  unfold  no  broad 
front,  and  so  the  losses  were  less  than  seven  hundred,  that 
must  otherwise  have  swelled  to  thousands.  The  musketry 


• 252 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


fire  was  delivered  with  terrible  emphasis.  Two  dwellings, 
in  one  of  which  Federal  wounded  men  were  lying,  set  on 
fire  by  the  rebels,  began  to  send  up  tall  columns  of  smoke, 
streaked  red  with  fire.  The  grand  and  the  terrible  were 
blended. 

* * * * * * * 

“ The  brief  November  afternoon  was  half  gone.  It 
was  yet  thundering  on  the  left ; along  the  centre  all  was 
still.  At  that  very  hour  a fierce  assault  was  made  upon 
the  enemy’s  left,  near  Rossville,  four  miles  down  toward 
the  old  field  of  Chickamauga.  They  carried  the  Ridge — 
Mission  Ridge  seems  everywhere  ; they  strewed  its  sum- 
mit with  rebel  dead  ; they  held  it.  And  thus  the  tips  of 
the  Federal  army’s  widespread  wings  flapped  grandly. 
But  it  had  not  swooped  ; the  gray  quarry  yet  perched 
upon  Mission  Ridge.  The  rebel  army  was  terribly  bat- 
tered at  the  edges ; but  there,  full  in  our  front,  it  grimly 
waited,  biding  out  its  time.  If  the  horns  of  the  rebel 
crescent  could  not  be  doubled  crushingly  together,  in  a 
shapeless  mass,  possibly  it  might  be  sundered  at  its  centre, 
and  tumbled  in  fragments  over  the  other  side  of  Mission 
Ridge.  Sherman  was  halted  upon  the  left ; Hooker  was 
holding  hard  in  Chattanooga  Valley;  the  Fourth  Corps, 
that  rounded  out  our  centre,  grew  impatient  of  restraint. 
The  day  was  waning ; but  little  time  remained  to  com- 
plete the  Commanding  General’s  grand  design.  Gordon 
Granger’s  hour  had  come  ; his  work  was  full  before  him. 

“ And  what  a work  that  was,  to  make  a weak  man 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


253 


falter  and  a brave  man  think ! One  and  a half  miles  to 
traverse,  with  narrow  fringes  of  woods,  rough  valleys, 
sweeps  of  open  field,  rocky  acclivities,  to  the  base  of  the 
ridge,  and  no  foot  in  all  the  breadth  withdrawn  from  rebel 
sight ; no  foot  that  could  not  be  played  upon  by  rebel 
cannon,  like  a piano’s  keys  under  Thalberg’s  stormy  fin- 
gers. The  base  attained,  what  then  ? A heavy  rebel 
work,  packed  with  the  enemy,  rimming  it  like  a battle- 
ment. That  work  carried,  and  what  then  ? A hill,  strug- 
gling up  out  of  the  valley  four  hundred  feet,  rained  on 
by  bullets,  swept  by  shot  and  shell ; another  line  of 
works,  and  then,  up  like  a Gothic  roof,  rough  with  rocks, 
a wreck  with  fallen  trees,  four  hundred  more  ■ another 
ring  of  fire  and  iron,  and  then  the  crest,  and  then  the 
enemy. 

“ To  dream  of  such  a journey  would  be  madness ; to 
devise  it,  a thing  incredible ; to  do  it,  a deed  impossible. 
But  Grant  was  guilty  of  them  all,  and  Granger  was  equal 
to  the  work.  The  story  of  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge  is 
struck  with  immortality  already ; let  the  leader  of  the 
Fourth  Corps  bear  it  company. 

“ That  the  centre  yet  lies  along  its  silent  line,  is  still 
true ; in  five  minutes  it  will  be  the  wildest  fiction.  Let 
us  take  that  little  breath  of  grace  for  just  one  glance  at 
the  surroundings,  since  we  shall  have  neither  heart  nor 
eyes  for  it  again.  Did  ever  battle  have  so  vast  a cloud 
of  witnesses  ? The  hive-shaped  hills  have  swarmed. 
Clustered  like  bees,  blackening  the  housetops,  lining  the 


254 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


fortifications,  over  yonder  across  the  theatre,  in  the  seats 
with  the  Catilines,  everywhere , are  a hundred  thousand 
beholders.  Their  souls  are  in  their  eyes.  Not  a murmur 
can  you  hear.  It  is  the  most  solemn  congregation  that 
ever  stood  up  in  the  presence  of  the  God  of  battles.  I 
think  of  Bunker  Hill,  as  I stand  here — of  the  thousands 
who  witnessed  the  immortal  struggle — and  fancy  there  is 
a parallel.  I think,  too,  that  the  chair  of  every  man  of 
them  will  stand  vacant  against  the  wall  to-morrow,  and 
that  around  the  fireside  they  must  give  thanks  without 
him,  if  they  can. 

“ At  half  past  three,  a group  of  generals,  whose 
names  will  need  no  1 Old  Mortality  ’ to  chisel  them  anew, 
stood  upon  Orchard  Knob.  The  hero  of  Vicksburg  was 
there,  calm,  clear,  persistent,  far-seeing.  Thomas,  the 
sterling  and  sturdy ; Meigs,  Hunter,  Granger,  Keynolds. 
Clusters  of  humbler  mortals  were  there,  too,  but  it  was 
anything  but  a turbulent  crowd ; the  voice  naturally  fell 
into  a subdued  tone,  and  even  young  faces  took  on  the 
gravity  of  later  years.  Generals  Grant,  Thomas,  and 
Granger  conferred,  an  order  was  given,  and  in  an  instant 
the  Knob  was  cleared  like  a ship’s  deck  for  action.  At 
twenty  minutes  of  four,  Granger  stood  upon  the  parapet. 
The  bugle  swung  idle  at  the  bugler’s  side,  the  warbling  fife 
and  the  grumbling  drum  unheard  : there  was  to  be  louder 
talk — six  guns  at  intervals  of  two  seconds,  the  signal  to 
advance.  Strong  and  steady  his  voice  rang  out : 1 Num- 
ber one,  fire  ! Number  two,  fire  I Number  three,  fire  ! ’ 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


255 


It  seemed  to  me  the  tolling  of  the  clock  of  destiny.  And 
when,  at  1 Number  six,  fire ! ’ the  roar  throbbed  out  with 
the  flash,  you  should  have  seen  the  dead  line  that  had  been 
lying  behind  the  works  all  day,  all  night,  all  day  again, 
come  to  resurrection  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  leap  like 
a blade  from  its  scabbard,  and  sweep  with  a two-mile 
stroke  toward  the  ridge.  From  divisions  to  brigades, 
from  brigades  to  regiments,  the  order  ran.  A minute,  and 
the  skirmishers  deploy ; a minute,  and  the  first  great 
drops  begin  to  patter  along  the  line  ; a minute,  and  the 
musketry  is  in  full  play,  like  the  crackling  whips  of  a 
hemlock  fire.  Men  go  down  here  and  there  before  your 
eyes.  The  wind  lifts  the  smoke,  and  drifts  it  away  over 
the  top  of  the  Ridge.  Everything  is  too  distinct ; it  is 
fairly  •palpable  ; you  can  touch  it  with  your  hand.  The 
divisions  of  Wood  and  Sheridan  are  wading  breast  deep 
in  the  valley  of  death. 

“ I never  can  tell  you  what  it  was  like.  They  pushed 
out,  leaving  nothing  behind  them.  There  wras  no  reserva- 
tion iu  that  battle.  On  moves  the  line  of  skirmishers,  like 
a heavy  frown,  and  after  it,  at  quick  time,  the  splendid 
columns.  At  right  of  us  and  left  of  us  and  front  of  us, 
you  can  see  the  bayonets  glitter  in  the  sun.  You  cannot 
persuade  yourself  that  Bragg  was  wrong,  a day  or  two 
ago,  when,  seeing  Hooker  moving  in,  he  said,  ‘Now  we 
shall  have  a Potomac  review  ; ’ that  this  is  not  the  parade 
he  prophesied ; that  it  is  of  a truth  the  harvest  of  death 
to  which  they  go  down.  And  so  through  the  fringe  of 


256 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


woods  went  the  line.  Now,  out  into  the  open  ground 
they  burst  at  the  double-quick.  Shall  I call  it  a Sabbath- 
day’s  journey,  or  a long  one  and  a half  mile  ? To  me 
that  watched,  it  seemed  endless  as  eternity ; and  yet  they 
made  it  in  thirty  minutes.  The  tempest  that  now  broke 
upon  their  heads  was  terrible.  The  enemy’s  fire  burst  out 
of  the  rifle  pits  from  base  to  summit  of  Mission  Ridge ; 
five  rebel  batteries  of  Parrotts  and  Napoleons  opened 
along  the  crest.  Grape  and  canister  and  shot  and  shell 
sowed  the  ground  with  rugged  iron,  and  garnished  it  with 
the  wounded  and  the  dead.  But  steady  and  strong  our 
columns  moved  on. 

1 By  heaven  ! It  was  a splendid  sight  to  see, 

For  one  who  had  no  friend,  no  brother  there ; 

but  to  all  loyal  hearts — alas  ! and  thank  God — those  men 
were  friend  and  brother,  both  in  one. 

“And  over  their  heads,  as  they  went,  Forts  Wood 
and  Negley  struck  straight  out,  like  mighty  pugilists,  right 
and  left,  raining  their  iron  blows  upon  the  Ridge  from  base 
to  crest ; Forts  Palmer  and  King  took  up  the  quarrel,  and 
Moccasin  Point  cracked  its  fiery  whips,  and  lashed  the 
rebel  left,  till  the  wolf  cowered  in  its  corner  with  a growl. 
Bridges’s  battery,  from  Orchard  Knob  below,  thrust  its 
ponderous  fists  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  and  planted 
blows  at  will.  Our  artillery  was  doing  splendid  service. 
It  laid  its  shot  and  shell  wherever  it  pleased.  Had  giants 
carried  them  by  hand,  they  could  hardly  have  been  more 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


257 


accurate.  All  along  the  mountain’s  side,  in  the  rebel  rifle 
pits,  on  the  crest,  they  fairly  dotted  the  Ridge.  General 
Granger  leaped  down,  sighted  a gun,  and  in  a moment, 
right  in  front,  a great  volume  of  smoke,  like  ‘ the  cloud  by 
day,’  lifted  off  the  summit  from  among  the  rebel  batteries, 
and  hung  motionless,  kindling  in  the  sun.  The  shot  had 
struck  a caisson,  and  that  was  its  dying  breath.  In  five 
minutes  away  floated  another.  A shell  went  crashing 
through  a building  in  the  cluster  that  marked  Bragg’s 
headquarters ; a second  killed  the  skeleton  horses  of  a 
battery  at  his  elbow ; a third  scattered  a gray  mass  as  if 
it  had  been  a wasp’s  nest. 

“ And  all  the  while  our  lines  were  moving  on.  They 
had  burned  through  the  woods  and  swept  over  the  rough 
and  rolling  ground  like  a prairie  fire.  Never  halting, 
never  faltering,  they  charged  up  to  the  first  rifle  pits  with 
a cheer,  forked  out  the  rebels  with  their  bayonets,  and  lay 
there  panting  for  breath.  If  the  thunder  of  guns  had 
been  terrible,  it  was  now  growing  sublime  ; it  was  like  the 
footfall  of  God  on  the  ledges  of  cloud.  Our  forts  and 
batteries  still  thrust  out  their  mighty  arms  across  the  val- 
ley. The  rebel  guns  that  lined  the  arc  of  the  crest  full  in 
our  front,  opened  like  the  fan  of  Lucifer,  and  converged 
their  fire  down  upon  Baird  and  Wood  and  Sheridan.  It 
was  rifles  and  musketry ; it  was  grape  and  canister ; it 
was  shell  and  shrapnel.  Mission  Ridge  was  volcanic ; a 
thousand  torrents  of  red  poured  over  its  brink,  and  rushed 
together  to  its  base.  And  our  men  were  there,  halting 
17 


258 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


for  breath ! And  still  the  sublime  diapason  rolled  on. 
Echoes  that  never  waked  before,  roared  out  from  height  to 
height,  and  called  from  the  far  ranges  of  Waldron’s  Eidge 
to  Lookout.  As  for  Mission  Eidge,  it  had  jarred  to  such 
music  before ; it  was  the  1 sounding  board  ’ of  Chicka- 
mauga.  It  was  behind,  us  then ; it  frowns  and  flashes  in 
our  face  to-day.  The  old  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was 
there.  It  breasted  the  storm  till  the  storm  was  spent,  and 
left  the  ground  it  held.  The  old  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land is  here  I It  shall  roll  up  the  Eidge  like  a surge  to  its 
summit,  and  sweep  triumphant  down  the  other  side. 
Believe  me,  that  memory  and  hope  may  have  made  the 
heart  of  many  a blue-coat  beat  like  a drum.  ‘ Beat,’  did 
I say  ? The  feverish  heart  of  the  battle  beats  on ; fifty- 
eight  guns  a minute,  by  the  watch,  is  the  rate  of  its  ter- 
rible throbbing.  That  hill,  if  you  climb  it,  will  appal 
you.  Furrowed  like  a summer  fallow,  bullets  as  if  an 
oak  had  shed  them ; trees  clipped  and  shorn,  leaf  and 
limb,  as  with  the  knife  of  some  heroic  gardener  pruning 
back  for  richer  fruit.  How  you  attain  the  summit,  weary 
and  breathless,  I wait  to  hear ; how  they  went  up  in  the 
teeth  of  the  storm,  no  man  can  tell ! 

“ And,  all  the  while,  rebel  priso  rs  have  been  stream- 
ing out  from  the  rear  of  our  lines  ^ce  the  tails  of  a cloud 
of  kites.  Captured  and  disarmed,  they  needed  nobody  to 
set  them  going.  The  fire  of  their  own  comrades  was  like 
spurs  in  a horse’s  flanks,  and,  amid  the  tempest  of  their 
own  brewing,  they  ran  for  dear  life,  until  they  dropped 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


259 


like  quails  into  the  Federal  rifle  pits,  and  were  safe.  But 
our  gallant  legions  are  out  in  the  storm  ; they  have  carried 
the  works  at  the  base  of  the  Ridge  ; they  have  fallen  like 
leaves  in  winter  weather.  Blow,  dumb  bugles  ! 

Sound  the  recall ! ‘ Take  the  rifle  pit ! ’ was  the 

order ; and  it  is  as  empty  of  rebels  as  the  tomb  of  the 
prophets.  Shall  they  turn  their  backs  to  the  blast  ? 
Shall  they  sit  down  under  the  eaves  of  that  dripping 
iron  ? Or  shall  they  climb  to  the  cloud  of  death  above 
them,  and  pluck  out  its  lightnings  as  they  would  straws 
from  a sheaf  of  wheat  ? But  the  order  was  not  given. 
And  now  the  arc  of  fire  on  the  crest  grows  fiercer  and 
longer.  The  reconnoissance  of  Monday  had  failed  to  de- 
velop the  heavy  metal  of  the  enemy.  The  dull  fringe  of 
the  hill  kindles  with  the  flash  of  great  guns.  I count  the 
fleeces  of  white  smoke  that  dot  the  Ridge,  as  battery  after 
battery  opens  upon  our  line,  until  from  the  ends  of  the 
growing  arc  they  sweep  down  upon  it  in  mighty  X’s  of 
fire.  I count  till  that  devil’s  girdle  numbers  thirteen  bat- 
teries, and  my  heart  cries  out,  1 Great  God,  when  shall  the 
end  be  ! ’ There  is  a poem  I learned  in  childhood,  and  so 
did  you  : it  is  Campbell’s  ‘ Hohenlinden.’  One  line  I 
never  knew  the  meaning  of,  until  I read  it  written  along 
that  hill ! It  has  lighted  up  the  whole  poem  for  me  with 
the  glow  of  battle  forever  : 

‘ And  louder  than  the  bolts  of  heaven, 

Far  flashed  the  red  artillery.’ 


260 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


“ At  this  moment,  General  Granger’s  aids  are  dashing 
out  with  an  order.  They  radiate  over  the  field,  to  left, 
right,  and  front.  ‘ Take  the  Ridge,  if  you  can  ! ’ ‘ Take 
the  Ridge,  if  you  can  ! ’ and  so  it  went  along  the  line. 
But  the  advance  had  already  set  forth  without  it.  Stout- 
hearted Wood,  the  iron-gray  veteran,  is  rallying  on  his 
men ; stormy  Turchin  is  delivering  brave  words  in  bad 
English  ; Sheridan — ‘ Little  Phil  ’ — you  may  easily  look 
down  upon  him  without  climbing  a tree,  and  see  one  of 
the  most  gallant  leaders  of  the  age,  if  you  do — is  riding 
to  and  fro  along  the  first  line  of  rifle  pits,  as  calmly  as  a 
chess  player.  An  aid  rides  up  with  the  order.  ‘ Avery, 
that  flask,’  said  the  general.  Quietly  filling  the  pewter 
cup,  Sheridan  looks  up  at  the  battery  that  frowns  above 
him,  by  Bragg’s  headquarters,  shakes  his  cap  amid  that 
storm  of  everything  that  kills,  when  you  could  hardly 
hold  your  hand  without  catching  a bullet  in  it,  and,  with  a 
‘ How  are  you  ? ’ tosses  off  the  cup.  The  blue  battle-flag 
of  the  rebels  fluttered  a response  to  the  cool  salute,  and 
the  next  instant  the  battery  let  fly  its  six  guns,  showering 
Sheridan  with  earth.  Alluding  to  that  compliment  with 
anything  but  a blank  cartridge,  the  general  said  to  me,  in 

his  quiet  way,  ‘ I thought  it  ungenerous  ! ’ The 

recording  angel  will  drop  a tear  upon  the  word  for  the 
part  he  played  that  day.  Wheeling  toward  the  men,  he 
cheered  them  to  the  charge,  and  made  at  the  hill  like  a 
bold-riding  hunter.  They  were  out  of  the  rifle  pits  and 
into  the  tempest,  and  struggling  up  the  steep,  before  you 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


261 


could  get  breath  to  tell  it ; and  so  they  were  throughout 
the  inspired  line. 

“ And  now  you  have  before  you  one  of  the  most  start- 
ling episodes  of  the  war.  I cannot  render  it  in  words ; 
dictionaries  are  beggarly  things.  But  I may  tell  you  they 
did  not  storm  that  mountain  as  you  would  think.  They 
dash  out  a little  way,  and  then  slacken ; they  creep  up, 
hand  over  hand,  loading  and  firing,  and  wavering  and 
hailing,  from  the  first  line  of  works  to  the  second ; they 
burst  into  a charge  with  a cheer,  and  go  over  it.  Sheets 
of  flame  baptize  them  ; plunging  shot  tear  away  comrades 
on  left  and  right ; it  is  no  longer  shoulder  to  shoulder  ; it 
is  God  for  us  all ! Under  tree  trunks,  among  rocks,  stum- 
bling over  the  dead,  struggling  with  the  living,  facing  the 
steady  fire  of  eight  thousand  infantry  poured  down  upon 
their  heads  as  if  it  were  the  old  historic  curse  from 
heaven,  they  wrestle  with  the  Ridge.  Ten,  fifteen, 
twenty  minutes  go  by,  like  a reluctant  century.  The 
batteries  roll  like  a drum.  Between  the  second  and  last 
lines  of  rebel  works  is  the  torrid  zone  of  the  battle.  The 
hill  sways  up  like  a wall  before  them  at  an  angle  of  fortyi 
five  degrees,  but  our  brave  mountaineers  are  clamber- 
ing steadily  on — up — upward  still ! You  may  think  it 
strange,  but  I would  not  have  recalled  them  if  I could. 
They  would  have  lifted  you,  as  they  did  me,  in  full  view 
of  the  heroic  grandeur.  They  seemed  to  be  spurning  the 
dull  earth  under  their  feet,  and  going  up  to  do  Homeric 
battle  with  the  greater  gods. 


262 


LIFE  OF  GENEEAL  GEANT. 


“ And  what  do  those  men  follow  ? If  you  look,  you 
shall  see  that  the  thirteen  thousand  are  not  a rushing  herd 
of  human  creatures ; that,  along  the  Gothic  roof  of  the 
Ridge,  a row  of  inverted  V’s  is  slowly  moving  up  almost 
in  line,  a mighty  lettering  on  the  hill’s  broad  side.  At 
the  angles  of  those  V’s  is  something  that  glitters  like  a 
wing.  Your  heart  gives  a great  bound  when  you  think 
what  it  is — the  regimental  flag — and,  glancing  along  the 
front,  count  fifteen  of  those  colors,  that  were  borne  at  Pea 
Ridge,  waved  at  Shiloh,  glorified  at  Stone  River,  riddled 
at  Chickamauga.  Nobler  than  Caesar’s  rent  mantle  are 
they  all ! And  up  move  the  banners,  now  fluttering  like 
a wounded  bird,  now  faltering,  now  sinking  out  of  sight. 
Three  times  the  flag  of  one  regiment  goes  down.  And 
you  know  why.  Three  dead  color  sergeants  lie  just 
there.  But  the  flag  is  immortal,  thank  God  ! and  up  it 
comes  again,  and  the  V’s  move  on.  At  the  left  of  Wood, 
three  regiments  of  Baird — Turchin,  the  Russian  thunder- 
bolt, is  there — hurl  themselves  against  a bold  point  strong 
with  rebel  works.  For  a long  quarter  of  an  hour  three 
flags  are  perched  aiid  motionless  on  a plateau  under  the 
frown  of  the  hill.  Will  they  linger  forever  ? I give  a 
look  at  the  sun  behind  me ; it  is  not  more  than  a hand’s 
breadth  from  the  edge  of  the  mountain ; its  level  rays 
bridge  the  valley  from  Chattanooga  to  the  Ridge  with 
beams  of  gold  • it  shines  in  the  rebel  faces ; it  brings  out 
the  Federal  blue  ; it  touches  up  the  flags.  Oh,  for  the 
voice  that  could  bid  that  sun  stand  still  1 I turn  to  the 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


263 


battle  again ; those  three  flags  have  taken-  flight ! They 
are  upward  bound. 

“ The  race  of  the  flags  is  growing  every  moment  more 
terrible.  There,  at  the  right,  a strange  thing  catches  the 
eye ; one  of  the  inverted  Y’s  is  turning  right  side  up. 
The  men  struggling  along  the  converging  lines  to  overtake 
the  flag,  have  distanced  it,  and  there  the  colors  are,  sink- 
ing down  in  the  centre  between  the  rising  flanks.  The 
line  wavers  like  a great  billow,  and  up  comes  the  banner 
again,  as  if  heaved  on  a surge’s  shoulder.  The  iron 
sledges  beat  on.  Hearts  loyal  and  brave  are  on  the  anvil, 
all  the  way  from  base  to  summit  of  Mission  Ridge,  but 
those  dreadful  hammers  never  intermit.  Swarms  of  bul- 
lets sweep  the  hill ; you  can  count  twenty-eight  balls  in 
one  little  tree.  Things  are  growing  desperate  up  aloft. 
The  rebels  tumble  rocks  upon  the  rising  line ; they  light 
the  fuses  and  roll  shells  down  the  steep ; they  load  the 
guns  with  handfuls  of  cartridges  in  their  haste ; and,  as  if 
there  were  powder  in  the  word,  they  shout,  ‘ Chicka- 
mauga  ! ’ down  upon  the  mountaineers.  But  it  would  not 
all  do ; and  just  as  the  sun,  weary  of  the  scene,  was  sink- 
ing out  of  sight,  with  magnificent  bursts  all  along  the  line, 
exactly  as  you  have  seen  the  crested  seas  leap  up  at  the 
breakwater,  the  advance  surged  over  the  crest,  and  in  a 
minute  those  flags  fluttered  along  the  fringe  where  fifty 
rebel  guns  were  kennelled.  God  bless  the  flag  ! God 
save  the  Union ! 

“ "What  colors  were  first  upon  the  mountain  battlement 


264 


LIFE  OF  GENEBAL  GEANT. 


I dare  not  try  to  say ; bright  honor  itself  may  be  proud 
to  bear — nay,  proud  to  follow,  the  hindmost.  Foot  by  foot 
they  had  fought  up  the  steep,  slippery  with  much  blood ; 
let  them  go  to  glory  together.  A minute,  and  they  were 
all  there,  fluttering  along  the  Ridge  from  left  to  right. 
The  rebel  hordes  rolled  off  to  the  north,  rolled  off  to  the 
east,  like  the  clouds  of  a worn-out  storm.  Bragg,  ten 
minutes  before,  was  putting  men  back  in  the  rifle  pits. 
His  gallant  gray  was  straining  a nerve  for  him  now,  and 
the  man  rode  on  horseback  into  Dixie’s  bosom,  who, 
arrayed  in  some  prophet’s  discarded  mantle,  foretold  on 
Monday  that  the  Yankees  would  leave  Chattanooga  in 
five  days.  They  left  in  three,  and  by  way  of  Mission 
Ridge,  straight  over  the  mountains  as  their  forefathers 
went ! As  Sheridan  rode  up  to  the  guns,  the  heels  of 
Breckinridge’s  horse  glittered  in  the  last  rays  of  sunshine. 
That  crest  was  hardly  ‘ well  off  with  the  old  love  before  it 
was  on  -with  the  new.’ 

“ But  the  scene  on  the  narrow  plateau  can  never  be 
painted.  As  the  blue-coats  surged  over  its  edge,  cheer  on 
cheer  rang  like  bells  through  the  valley  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga.  Men  flung  themselves  exhausted  upon  the 
ground.  They  laughed  and  wept,  shook  hands,  and  em- 
braced ; turned  round,  and  did  all  four  over  again.  It 
was  as  wild  as  a carnival.  Granger  was  received  with  a 
shout.  ‘Soldiers,’  he  said,  ‘you  ought  to  be  court  mar- 
tialled,  every  man  of  you.  I ordered  you  to  take  the  rifle 
pits,  and  you  scaled  the  mountain ! ’ But  it  was  not 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


265 


Mars’  horrid  front  exactly  with  which  he  said  it,  for  his 
cheeks  were  wet  with  tears  as  honest  as  the  blood  that 
reddened  all  the  route.  Wood  uttered  words  that  rang 
like  ‘ Napoleon’s  ; ’ and  Sheridan,  the  rowels  at  his  horse’s 
flanks,  was  ready  for  a dash  down  the  Ridge  with  a 1 view 
halloo,’  for  a fox  hunt. 

“ But  you  must  not  think  this  was  all  there  was  of  the 
scene  on  the  crest,  for  fight  and  frolic  were  strangely  min- 
gled. Not  a rebel  had  dreamed  a man  of  us  all  would 
live  to'reach  the  summit;  and  when  a little  wave  of  the 
Federal  cheer  rolled  up  and  broke  over  the  crest,  they 
defiantly  cried,  ‘ Hurrah,  and  be  d d ! ’ the  next  min- 

ute a Union  regiment  followed  the  voice,  the  rebels  deliv- 
ered their  fire,  and  tumbled  down  in  the  rifle  pits,  their 
faces  distorted  with  fear.  No  sooner  had  the  soldiers 
scrambled  to  the  Ridge  and  straightened  themselves,  than 
up  muskets  and  away  they  blazed.  One  of  them,  fairly 
beside  himself  between  laughing  and  crying,  seemed  puz- 
zled at  which  end  of  the  piece  he  should  load,  and  so, 
abandoning  the  gun  and  the  problem  together,  he  made  a 
catapult  of  himself,  and  fell  to  hurling  stones  after  the 

enemy.  And  he  said,  as  he  threw well,  you  know 

our  ‘army'swore  terribly  in  Flanders.’  Bayonets  glinted 
and  muskets  rattled.  General  Sheridan’s  horse  was  killed 
under  him.  Richard  was  not  in  his  role,  and  so  he  leaped 
upon  a rebel  gun  for  want  of  another.  Rebel  artillerists 
are  driven  from  their  batteries  at  the  edge  of  the  sword 
and  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Two  rebel  guns  are  swung 


26G 


LIFE  OF  GENEEAL  GEANT. 


around  upon  their  old  masters.  But  there  is  nobody  to 
load  them.  Light  and  heavy  artillery  do  not  belong  to 
the  winged  kingdom.  Two  infantry  men,  claiming  to  be 
old  artillerists,  volunteer.  Granger  turns  captain  of  the 
guns,  and — 1 right  about  wheel ! ’ — in  a moment  they  are 
growling  after  the  flying  enemy.  I say  ‘ flying,’  but  that 
is  figurative.  The  many  run  like  Spanish  merinos,  but  the 
few  fight  like  gray  wolves  at  bay ; they  load  and  fire  as 
they  retreat ; they  are  fairly  scorched  out  of  position. 

“ A sharpshooter,  fancying  Granger  to  be  worth  the 
powder,  coolly  tries  his  hand  at  him.  The  general  hears 
the  zip  of- a ball  at  one  ear,  but  doesn’t  mind  it.  In  a 
minute,  away  it  sings  at  the  other.  He  takes  the  hint, 
sweeps  with  his  glass  the  direction  whence  the  couple 
came,  and  brings  up  the  marksman,  just  drawing  a bead 
upon  him  again.  At  that  instant  a Federal  argument  per- 
suades the  cool  hunter,  and  down  he  goes.  That  long- 
range  gun  of  his  was  captured,  weighed  twenty-four 
pounds,  was  telescope-mounted,  a sort  of  mongrel  how- 
itzer. 

“ A colonel  is  slashing  away  with  his  sabre  in  a ring 
of  rebels.  Down  goes  his  horse  under  him.  They  have 
him  on  the  hip.  One  of  them  is  taking  deliberate  aim, 
when  up  rushes  a lieutenant,  claps  a pistol  to  one  ear,  and 
roars  in  at  the  other,  ‘ Who  the  h — 1 are  you  shooting  at  ? ’ 
The  fellow  drops  his  piece,  gasps  out,  ‘ I surrender  ! ’ and 
the  next  instant  the  gallant  lieutenant  falls  sharply  wound- 
ed. He  is  a ‘ roll  of  honor  ’ officer,  straight  up  from  the 
tanks,  and  he  honors  the  roll. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


267 


“A  little  German  in  Wood’s  division  is  pierced  like 
the  lid  of  a pepper  box,  but  he  is  neither  dead  nor 
wounded.  ‘ See  here,’  he  says,  rushing  up  to  a comrade  ; 
‘ a pullet  hit  te  preach  of  mine  gun,  a pullet  in  mine 
pocketboob,  a pullet  in  mine  coat  tail ; dey  shoots  me 
tree,  five  time,  and  I gives  dem  h — 1 yet ! ’ 

“ But  I can  render  you  no  idea  of  the  battle  caldron 
that  boiled  on  the  plateau.  An  incident  here  and  there  I 
have  given  you,  and  you  must  fill  out  the  picture  for  your- 
self. Dead  rebels  lay  thick  around  Bragg’s  headquarters 
and  along  the  Ridge.  Scabbards,  broken  arms,  artillery 
horses,  wrecks  of  gun  carriages,  and  bloody  garments 
strewed  the  scene.  And,  tread  lightly,  oh,  loyal-hearted  ! 
the  boys  in  blue  are  lying  there.  No  more  the  sounding 
charge ; no  more  the  brave,  wild  cheer ; and  never  for 
them,  sweet  as  the  breath  of  the  new-mown  hay  in  the 
old  home  fields,  ‘The  Soldier’s  Return  from  the  War.’ 
A little  waif  of  a drummer  boy,  somehow  drifted  up  the 
mountain  in  the  surge,  lies  there ; his  pale  face  upward,  a 
blue  spot  on  his  breast.  Muffle  his  drum  for  the  poor 
child  and  his  mother. 

“ Our  troops  met  one  loyal  welcome  on  the  height. 
How  the  old  Tennesseean  that  gave  it  managed  to  get 
there,  nobody  knows ; but  there  he  was,  grasping  a 
colonel’s  hand,  and  saying,  while  the  tears  ran  down  his 
face,  ‘ God  be  thanked ! I knew  the  Yankees  would 
fight  ! ’ With  the  receding  flight  and  swift  pursuit  the 
battle  died  away  in  murmurs,  far  down  the  valley  of  the 


268 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Chickamauga.  Sheridan  was  again  in  the  saddle,  and, 
with  his  command,  spurring  on  after  the  enemy.  Tall 
columns  of  smoke  were  rising  at  the  left.  The  rebels 
were  burning  a train  of  stores  a mile  long.  In  the  ex- 
ploding rebel  caissons  we  had  1 tlie  cloud  by  day,’  and 
now  we  are  having  1 the  pillar  of  fire  by  night.’  The  sun, 
the  golden  disc  of  the  scales  that  balance  day  and  night, 
had  hardly  gone  down,  when  up,  beyond  Mission  Eidge, 
rose  the  silver  side,  for  that  night  it  was  full  moon.  The 
troubled  day  was  gone.  A Federal  general  sat  in  the  seat 
of  the  man  who,  on  the  very  Saturday  before  the  battle, 
had  sent  a flag  to  the  Federal  lines  with  the  words  : 

“ ‘ Humanity  would  dictate  the  removal  of  all  non- 
combatants  from  Chattanooga,  as  I am  about  to  shell  the 
city  ! ’ 

“ Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  is  reported 
at  about  four  thousand.  "We  captured  over  six  thousand 
prisoners,  besides  the  wounded  left  in  our  hands,  forty 
pieces  of  artillery,  five  or  six  thousand  small  arms,  and  a 
large  train.  The  enemy’s  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is 
not  known.” 

A new  record  of  sacrifice,  of  mourning,  and  of  re- 
splendent victory ! General  Grant,  under  God’s  guid- 
ance, has  redeemed  the  mighty  Southwest ! 

When  our  victorious  troops  had  fairly  routed  the 
astonished  Bragg  on  Missionary  Ridge,  a lady,  whose 
residence  was  within  his  lines,  in  alarm  said  to  him : 
“ What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me,  general  ? ” Re- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


269 


plied  the  bragging  rebel : “ Lord,  madam  ! the  Yankees 
will  never  dare  to  come  up  here.” 

Relating  the  incident  to  our  “ boys,”  sbe  added,  with 
a blubber : “ And  it  was  not  fifteen  minutes  before  you 
were  all  around  here.” 

The  sweep  of  General  Hooker’s  column  around  the 
spur  of  Lookout,  surprising  the  enemy,  till  he  reached  the 
dizzy  heights  and  fought  above  the  clouds  of  the  misty  day, 
was  a deed  of  heroism  which  alone  would  have  made  the 
struggle  and  his  name  immortal. 

You  have  here  the  brief  despatches  of  the  opposing 
generals : 


Chattanooga,  November  25,  1863— T 15  p.  m. 
Major-General  H.  W.  Halleck,  General-in-Chief: 

Although  the  battle  lasted  from  early  dawn  till  dark  this  evening, 
I believe  I am  not  premature  in  announcing  a complete  victory  over 
Bragg. 

Lookout  Mountain  top,  all  the  rifle  pits  in  Chattanooga  Valley, 
and  Missionary  Eidge  entire,  have  been  carried,  and  are  now  held 
by  us. 

U.  S.  Grant,  Major-General. 

Chickamauga,  November  25,  1863. 
General  S.  Cooper,  Adjutant  and  Inspector-General : 

After  several  unsuccessful  assaults  on  our  lines  to-day,  the  enemy 
carried  the  left  centre  about  four  o’clock.  The  whole  left  soon  gave 
way  in  considerable  disorder.  The  right  maintained  its  ground,  and 
repelled  every  attack.  I am  withdrawing  all  to  this  point. 

Braxton  Bragg. 


270 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


"Wrote  Quartermaster-General  Meigs  to  Secretary 
Stanton  : 

“ Bragg’s  remaining  troops  left  early  in  the  night,  and 
the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  after  days  of  manoeuvring  and 
fighting,  was  won.  The  strength  of  the  rebellion  in  the 
centre  is  broken.  Burnside  is  relieved  from  danger  in 
East  Tennessee.  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  are  rescued. 
Georgia  and  the  Southeast  are  threatened  in  the  rear,  and 
another  victory  is  added  to  the  chapter  of  ‘ Unconditional 
Surrender  Grant.’ 

“ To-night  the  estimate  of  captures  is  several  thousand 
prisoners  and  thirty  pieces  of  artillery. 

“ Our  loss  for  so  great  a victory  is  not  severe. 

“ Bragg  is  firing  the  railroad  as  he  retreats  toward 
Dalton.  Sherman  is  in  hot  pursuit, 

“ To-day  I viewed  the  battle  field,  which  extends  for 
six  miles  along  Missionary  Ridge,  and  for  several  miles  on 
Lookout  Mountain. 

“ Probably  not  so  well-directed,  so  well-ordered  a 
battle,  has  taken  place  during  the  war.  But  one  assault 
was  repulsed ; but  that  assault,  by  calling  to  that  point 
the  rebel  reserves,  prevented  them  repulsing  any  of  the 
others. 

“ A few  days  since,  Bragg  sent  to  General  Grant  a 
flag  of  truce,  advising  him  that  it  would  be  prudent  to 
remove  any  non-combatants  who  might  be  still  in  Chatta- 
nooga. No  reply  has  been  returned;  but  the  combatants 
having  removed  from  the  vicinity,  it  is  probable  that  non- 
combatants  can  remain  without  imprudence.” 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


271 


It  is  related  of  General  Scott,  tlie  old  veteran  and 
hero  of  the  last  war  with  England  (which,  we  fear,  will 
not  long  he  the  last),  that,  in  conversation  with  a gentle- 
man in  office  at  Washington,  about  the  victories,  he  ex- 
pressed his  surprise  at  General  Grant’s  success.  He 
remarked  : 

“ General  Grant  has  shown  more  military  skill  than 
any  other  general  on  our  side.  And  I am  the  more  sur- 
prised, as  I can  only  remember  him  in  the  Mexican  war 
as  a young  lieutenant  of  undoubted  courage,  but  giving  no 
promise  whatever  of  anything  beyond  ordinary  abilities.” 

Among  the  heroes  who  fell  at  Chattanooga,  was 
Colonel  O’Meara,  of  the  Irish  Legion.  When  General 
Grant  heard  that  the  body  was  coffined  for  its  homeward 
journey,  he  hastened  to  the  spot  where  it  lay.  Standing 
beside  it,  he  said  : 

“ Lift  the  coffin  lid,  that  I may  take  a last  look  at  the 
gallant  colonel  of  the  Irish  Legion.” 

Writes  Larkee  : 

“ He  was  touched  at  the  sight  of  one  whom  he  had 
honored  and  publicly  thanked  before  he  had  been  two 
months  in  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  O’Meara’s  de- 
fence of  the  trestlework,  a few  miles  north  of  Holly 
Springs,  Miss.,  when  Van  Dorn  made  a raid  there  in 
December,  1862,  and  which  saved  Grant’s  army  from 
starvation,  was  never  forgotten  by  the  General.  The 
spectators  were  moved  at  the  sad  and  touching  farewell  of 
the  Commander  of  the  Department  of  the  Mississippi  from 


272 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  corpse  of  a young  Irish  soldier,  who  had  forfeited  his 
life  to  the  belief  that  ‘ the  highest  and  best  duty  of  all, 
native  or  foreign  horn,  was  to  stand  by  the  flag  which  is 
the  hope  of  the  exile,  the  emblem  of  philanthropy,  and 
the  ensign  of  the  American  people.’  ” 


CHAPTER  XX. 


General  Sherman  at  Knoxville— The  President  and  the  Victories — Major- 
General  Grant’s  Congratulations— Colonel  Ely,  the  Indian  Sachem’s 
Tribute — Excitement  in  Washington— A Medal — Other  Honors— Hon. 
Mr.  Washburn’s  Speech — Grant's  untiring  Activity — Visits  a sick  Child 
—He  is  invited  to  a Banquet — Accepts  the  Honor— The  brilliant  Festival. 


GENERAL  LONGSTREET  lias  learned  the  rea- 
son why  he  was  allowed  to  besiege  Knoxville. 
The  news  of  Hooker’s  mountain  climbing,  and 
of  Yankee  flags  on  Missionary  Ridge,  dispelled 
his  dream  of  success.  The  proud  rebel  is  exas- 
perated, and  determined  to  save  his  name  from  sharing 
the  disgrace  of  Chattanooga.  So,  November  29th,  he 
dashed  against  Port  Saunders,  but  only  got  sorely  bruised 
himself.  Then,  pursuing  columns  in  the  track  of  the  de- 
feated foe  beyond  Ringgold,  Ga.,  wheeled,  and  marched  on 
Longstreet.  Finding  himself  hard  pressed,  like  Joe  John- 
ston at  Jackson,  he  deemed  “prudence  the  better  part  of 
valor,”  and  made  his  escape  in  the  night  of  Decem- 
ber 4th. 


18 


274 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


This  completed  the  great  work  of  General  Grant  in 
his  new  Department ; and  President  Lincoln,  upon  receiv- 
ing the  glad  tidings,  issued  two  brief  messages.  One  of 
them  was  addressed  to  the  people  ; the  other,  a day  later, 
to  General  Grant : 


Executive  Mansion,  Washington,  D.  C.,  December  7,  1863. 

Reliable  information  being  received  that  the  insurgent  force  is 
retreating  from  East  Tennessee,  under  circumstances  rendering  it 
probable  that  the  Union  forces  cannot  hereafter  be  dislodged  from 
that  important  position  ; and  esteeming  this  to  be  of  high  national 
consequence,  I recommend  that  ail  loyal  people  do,  on  receipt  of  this 
information,  assemble  at  their  places  of  worship,  and  render  special 
homage  and  gratitude  to  Almighty  God  for  this  great  advancement 
of  the  National  cause. 

A.  Lincoln. 

Washington,  December  8. 

Major-General  Grant  : 

Understanding  that  your  lodgment  at  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville 
is  now  secure,  I wish  to  tender  you,  and  all  under  your  command, 
my  more  than  thanks — my  profoundest  gratitude  for  the  skill,  cour- 
age, and  perseverance  with  which  you  and  they,  over  so  great  diffi- 
culties, have  effected  that  important  object.  God  bless  you  all ! 

- A.  Lincoln. 

Major-General  Grant’s  congratulations  to  his  magnifi- 
cent army,  two  days  after,  is  a noble  tribute  from  an  un- 
assuming, magnanimous  heart.  His  acknowledgment  of 
God’s  help  is  evidently  earnest  and  sincere  : 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


275 


.Headquarters  Military  Division  op  the  Mississippi,  1 
In  the  Field,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Dec.  10, 1863.  ) 

The  General  Commanding  takes  this  opportunity  of  returning  his 
sincere  thanks  and  congratulations  to  the  brave  armies  of  the  Cum- 
berland, the  Ohio,  the  Tennessee,  and  their  comrades  from  the  Poto- 
mac, for  the  recent  splendid  and  decisive  successes  achieved  over  the 
enemy.  In  a short  time  you  have  recovered  from  him  the  control  of 
the  Tennessee  River  from  Bridgeport  to  Knoxville.  You  dislodged 
him  from  his  great  stronghold  upon  Lookout  Mountain,  drove  him 
from  Chattanooga  Yalley,  wrested  from  his  determined  grasp  the  pos- 
session of  Missionary  Ridge,  repelled  with  heavy  loss  to  him  his  re- 
peated assaults  upon  Knoxville,  forcing  him. to  raise  the  siege  there, 
driving  him  at  all  points,  utterly  routed  and  discomfited,  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  State.  By  your  noble  heroism  and  determined  .courage, 
you  have  most  effectually  defeated  the  plans  of  the  enemy  for  re- 
gaining possession  of  the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  You 
have  secured  positions  from  which  no  rebellious  power  can  drive  or 
dislodge  you.  For  all  this  the  General  Commanding  thanks  you  col- 
lectively and  individually.  The  loyal  people  of  the  United  States 
thank  and  bless  you.  Their  hopes  and  prayers  for  your  success 
against  this  unholy  rebellion  are  with  you  daily.  Their  faith  in  you 
will  not  be  in  vain.  Their  hopes  will  not  be  blasted.  Their  prayers 
to  Almighty  God  will  be  answered.  You  will  yet  go  to  other  fields 
of  strife  ; and,  with  the  invincible  bravery  and  unflinching  loyalty  to 
justice  and  right  which  have  characterized  you  in  the  past,  you  will 
prove  that  no  enemy  can  withstand  you,  and  that  no  defences,  how- 
ever formidable,  can  check  your  onward  march. 

By  order  of  Major-General  U.  S.  Graht. 

General  Bragg  lost  liis  command,  in  losing  Chatta- 
nooga. General  Hardee  took  his  place ; of  whom  Gen- 


276 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


eral  Grant,  who  knew  these  men,  said : “ He  is  my 
choice .” 

Colonel  Ely,  Indian  Sachem,  and  Chief  of  the  Tona- 
wandas  and  Seneca  Nation,  who  was  on  the  staff,  tells  you 
what  he  saw  and  thinks  of  the  Commander  of  three  grand 
armies : 

“ I need  not  describe  to  you  the  recent  battle  of  Chat- 
tanooga. The  papers  have  given  every  possible  detail 
concerning  it.  I may  only  say  that  I saw  it  all,  and  was 
in  the  live  days’  fight.  Of  General  Grant’s  staff,  only  one 
was  wounded — a Lieutenant  Towner,  Assistant  Chief  of 
Artillery,  whose  parents  formerly  lived  at  Batavia,  N.  Y., 
but  now  of  Chicago.  It  has  been  a matter  of  universal 
wonder  in  this  army  that  General  Grant  himself  was  not 
killed,  and  that  no  more  accidents  occurred  to  his  staff ; 
for  the  General  was  always  in  the  front  (his  staff  with 
him,  of  course),  and  perfectly  heedless  of  the  storm  of 
hissing  bullets  and  screaming  shell  flying  around  him. 
His  apparent  want  of  sensibility  does  not  arise  from 
heedlessness,  heartlessness,  or  vain  military  affectation, 
but  from  a sense  of  the  responsibility  resting  upon  him 
when  in  battle.  "When  at  Ringgold,  we  rode  for  half  a 
mile  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  under  an  incessant  fire  of 
cannon  and  musketry ; nor  did  we  ride  fast,  but  upon  an 
ordinary  trot,  and  not  once,  do  I believe,  did  it  enter  the 
General’s  mind  that  he  was  in  danger.  I was  by  his  side, 
and  watched  him  closely.  In  riding  that  distance,  we 
were  going  to  the  front,  and  I could  see  that  he  was  study- 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


277 


ing  the  positions  of  the  two  armies,  and,  of  course,  plan- 
ning how  to  defeat  the  enemy,  who  was  here  making  a 
most  desperate  stand,  and  was  slaughtering  our  men  fear- 
fully. After  defeating  and  driving  the  enemy  here,  we 
returned  to  Chattanooga. 

“ Another  feature  in  General  Grant’s  personal  move- 
ments is,  that  he  requires  no  escort  beyond  his  staff,  so 
regardless  of  danger  is  he.  Roads  are  almost  useless  to 
him,  for  he  takes  short  cuts  through  fields  and  woods,  and 
will  swim  his  horse  through  almost  any  stream  that  ob- 
structs his  way.  Nor  does  it  make  any  difference  to  him 
whether  he  has  daylight  for  his  movements ; for  he  will 
ride  from  breakfast  until  two  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and 
that,  too,  without  eating.  The  next  day  he  will  repeat 
the  dose,  until  he  finishes  the  work.  Now,  such  things 
come  hard  upon  the  staffj  but  they  have  learned  how  to 
bear  it.” 

The  excitement  in  the  nation’s  capital  over  the  success 
of  our  arms  under  General  Grant,  was  scarcely  less  than 
when  the  lightning  conveyed  the  news  of  Vicksburg’s 
evacuation.  Congress  assembled  the  very  day  the  thrill- 
ing intelligence  spread  through  the  city.  Soon  as  the 
business  could  properly  come  before  the  House,  Hon.  Mr. 
"Washburn,  of  Galena,  where  General  Grant  had  his 
leather  store,  rose,  and  gave  the  usual  notice  that  he 
should  introduce  two  bills  : one,  “ to  revive  the  grade  of 
lieutenant-general  of  the  army ; ” the  other,  “ to  pro 
vide  that  a medal  be  struck  for  General  Grant,  and  that 


278 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


a vote  of  thanks  be  given  him,  and  the  officers  of  the 
army.” 

Ten  days  later,  the  annexed  act  of  Congress  received 
the  President’s  signature  : 

LAWS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

Passed  at  the  First  Session  of  the  Thirty~eighth  Congress. 

[Public  Resolution  No.  1.] 

Joint  Resolution  of  Thanks  to  Major-General  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 
and  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  have  fought  under  his  command 
during  this  Rebellion  ; and  providing  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States  shall  cause  a medal  to  be  struck,  to  be  presented  to 
Major-General  Grant  in  the  name  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  the  thanks  of 
Congress  be  and  they  hereby  are  presented  to  Major-General  Ulysses 
S.  Grant,  and  through  him  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  have 
fought  under  his  command  during  this  Rebellion,  for  their  gallantry 
and  good  conduct  in  the  battles  in  which  they  have  been  engaged  ; 
and  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to  cause  a 
gold  medal  to  be  struck,  w’ith  suitable  emblems,  devices,  and  inscrip- 
tions, to  be  presented  to  Mqjor-General  Grant. 

Sec.  2.  And  be  it  further  resolved,  That,  when  the  said  medal 
shall  have  been  struck,  the  President  shall  cause  a copy  of  this  joint 
resolution  to  be  engrossed  on  parchment,  and  shall  transmit  the 
same,  together  with  the  said  medal,  to  Major-General  Grant,  to  be 
presented  to  him  in  the  name  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  of 
America. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


279 


Sec.  3.  And  be  it  further  resolved , That  a sufficient  sum  of 
money  to  carry  this  resolution  into  effect  is  hereby  appropriated  out 
of  any  money  in  the  Treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated. 

Schuyler  Colfax, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
H.  Hamlin, 

Vice-President  of  the  United  States  and 
President  of  the  Senate. 

Approved  December  17,  1863. 

Abraham  Lincoln. 


The  token  of  a grateful  nation’s  regard  was  designed 
by  the  artist  Leutze.  The  picture  on  one  side  of  the 
medal  was  to  consist  of  a profile  likeness  of  the  hero,  sur- 
rounded by  a wreath  of  laurels  ; his  name  and  the  year  of 
his  victories  inscribed  upon  it.  and  the  whole  surrounded 
Dy  a galaxy  of  stars.  The  design  for  the  reverse  was 
original,  appropriate,  and  beautiful.  It  was  the  figure  of 
Fame  seated  in  a graceful  attitude  on  the  American  eagle, 
which,  with  outspread  wings,  seems  preparing  for  flight. 
In  her  right  hand  she  held  the  symbolical  trump,  and  in 
her  left  a scroll  on  which  were  inscribed  the  names  of  the 
gallant  chief’s  various  battles,  viz.  : Corinth,  Vicksburg, 
Mississippi  River,  and  Chattanooga.  On  her  head  was  a 
helmet,  ornamented,  in  Indian  fashion,  with  feathers  radia- 
ting from  it.  In  front  of  the  eagle,  its  breast  resting 
against  it,  was  the  emblematical  shield  of  the  United 
States.  Just  underneath  this  group,  their  stems  .crossing 
each  other,  were  single  sprigs  of  the  pine  and  the  palm, 


280 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


typical  of  the  North  and  South.  Above  the  figure  of 
Fame,  in  a curved  line,  the  motto,  “ Proclaim  Liberty 
throughout  the  Land.”  The  edge  was  surrounded,  like 
the  obverse,  with  a circle  of  stars  of  a style  peculiar  to 
the  Byzantine  period,  and  rarely  seen  except  in  illumi- 
nated manuscripts  of  that  age.  These  stars  were  more  in 
number  than  the  existing  States — of  course,  including 
those  of  the  South — thereby  suggesting  further  additions 
in  the  future  to  the  Union. 

Honors  came  from  the  Executive  mansion,  Halls  of 
Congress,  and,  not  the  least,  from  the  high  places  of  reli- 
gious sentiment  and  enterprise  in  the  land.  The  Cincin- 
nati Conference  of  the  Methodist  Church,  at  the  anniver- 
sary of  its  Missionary  Society,  elected  him  an  Honorary 
Member.  Nearly  the  same  time,  he  received  a note  from 
Morristown,  N.  J.,  informing  him  that  he  had  been  elected 
Life  Director  of  that  Society,  by  a contribution  to  it  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  replies  of  the  General 
are  characteristically  brief,  and  yet  expressive  : 

Chattanooga,  December  7,  1863. 
Rev.  F.  Marlav,  Secretary  Society : 

Dear  Sir  : Through  you,  permit  me  to  express  mv_  thanks  to  the 
Society  of  which  you  are  the  honored  Secretary,  for  the  compliment 
they  have  seen  fit  to  pay  me  by  electing  me  one  of  its  members. 

I accept  the  election  as  a token  of  earnest  support,  by  members 
of  the  Methodist  Missionary  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  Conference,  to 
the  cause  of  our  country  in  this  hour  of  trial. 

I have  the  honor  to  be,  very  truly,  your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  Grant,  Major-General  U.  S.  A. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


281 


Headquarters,  Military  Hist,  of  the  Mississippi,  ) 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  December  16,  1863.  j 

To  the  Rev.  Lewis  R.  Dunn,  Pastor  of  M.  E.  Church,  Morris- 
town, N.  J. 

Sir  : In  reply  to  your  letter  of  December  19th,  to  Major-General 
U.  S.  Grant,  he  directs  me  to  express  his  gratitude  to  the  Christian 
people  of  Morristown  for  their  prayerful  remembrance  of  him  before 
the  throne  of  the  Most  High,  and  to  thank  them,  through  you,  for 
the  honor  conferred  upon  him.  Be  good  enough  to  send  his  Certifi- 
cate of  Membership  to  Mrs.  U.  S.  Grant,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  H.  Wilson,  Brigadier-General. 

A few  days  later,  the  Legislature  of  New  York 
passed  the  following  resolution,  similar  to  one  by  the 
similar  body  in  Ohio  : 

“ Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  this  State 
be  tendered  to  General  Grant,  and  his  army,  for  their  glo- 
rious victories  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  the 
still  more  glorious  victory  at  Mission  Ridge  and  Lookout 
Mountain,  and  that  a certified  copy  of  this  resolution  be 
forwarded  to  General  Grant.” 

From  Colonel  Colt’s  magnificent  manufactory  of  pis- 
tols— since  burned  to  the  ground — was  ordered,  by  friends, 
a pair  of  revolvers  of  the  richest  style.  They  were  inlaid 
with  gold,  and  the  cartridge  boxes  and  other  appendages 
of  solid  silver. 

Early  in  February,  1864,  the  debate  arose  on  the 
lieutenant-generalship — an  office  held  only,  in  our  history, 


282 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


by  Washington  and  General  Scott.  It  gives  the  honored 
officer  active  control  of  the  entire  army  of  the  United 
States,  and  makes  him  second  in  command  only  to  the 
President,  who  stands  at  the  head  of  the  troops.  Mr. 
Washburn,  in  his  speech  on  the  question,  said  : 

“ Look  at  what  this  man  has  done  for  his  country,  for 
humanity  and  civilization — this  modest  and  unpretending 
general,  whom  gentlemen  appear  to  be  so  much  afraid  of. 
He  has  fought  more  battles  and  won  more  victories  than 
any  man  living ; he  has  captured  more  prisoners  and  taken 
more  guns  than  any  general  of  modern  times.  To  us  in 
the  great  valley  of  the  West,  he  has  rendered  a service  in 
opening  our  great  channel  of  communication  to  the  ocean, 
so  that  the  great  ‘ Father  of  Waters  ’ now  goes  ‘ unvexed 
to  the  sea,’  which  endears  him  to  all  our  hearts.  Sir, 
when  his  blue  legions  crowned  the  crest  of  Vicksburg,  and 
the  hosts  of  rebeldom  laid  their  arms  at  the  feet  of  this 
great  conqueror,  the  rebel  Confederacy  was  cut  in  twain, 
and  the  backbone  of  the  Rebellion  broken. 

“ At  that  moment  was  seen  in  General  Grant  that . 
greatest  of  all  gifts  of  a military  man — the  gift  of  de- 
ciding instantly  amid  the  pressure  of  the  greatest  emer- 
gencies. I was  with  him  when  Porter  reported  his  inabil- 
ity to  reduce  the  batteries ; and  in  an  instant  he  made  his 
new  dispositions,  and  gave  his  orders.  They  were,  to 
debark  all  his  troops,  and  march  them  down  three  miles 
below  Grand  Gulf ; ‘ and,’  said  he,  ‘ after  nightfall  I will 
run  every  transport  I have  below  their  batteries,  and  not 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


283 


one  shall  he  injured.’  And,  sure  enough,  when  it  became 
dark,  Porter  again  attacked  the  batteries  with  his  fleet, 
and,  amid  the  din  and  clatter  of  the  attack,  the  transports 
all  safely  passed  Grand  Gulf. 

“ And  that  which  must  ever  be  regarded  by  the  histo- 
rian as  the  most  extraordinary  feature  of  this  campaign,  is 
the  astounding  fact,  that,  when  General  Grant  landed  in 
the  State  of  Mississippi,  and  made  his  campaign  in  the 
enemy’s  country,  he  had  a smaller  force  than  the  enemju 
There  he  was,  in  the  enemy’s  country,  cut  off,  in  a 
measure,  from  his  supplies,  with  a great  river  in  his  rear, 
and  in  one  of  the  most  defensible  of  countries,  through 
which  he  had  to  pass.  To  his  indomitable  courage  and 
energy,  to  his  unparalleled  celerity  of  movement,  striking 
the  enemy  in  detail,  and  beating  him  on  every  field,  is  the 
country  indebted  for  those  wonderful  successes  of  that  cam- 
paign, which  have  not  only  challenged  the  gratitude  and 
admiration  of  our  own  countrymen,  but  the  admiration  of 
the  best  military  men  of  all  nations.  My  colleague  [Mr. 
Farnsworth]  has  well  said,  that  General  Grant  is  no  ■ car- 
pet knight.’  If  gentlemen  could  know  him  as  I know 
him,  and  as  his  soldiers  know  him,  they  would  not  be  so 
reluctant  about  conferring  this  honor.  If  they  could  have 
seen  him  as  I saw  him  on  that  expedition;  if  they  could 
have  witnessed  his  terrible  earnestness,  his  devotion  to  his 
duty,  his  care,  his  vigilance,  and  his  unchallenged  courage, 
I think  their  opposition  to  this  bill  would  give  way.’ 

“ But  gentlemen  say,  "Wait,  and  confer  this  rank  when 


284 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  war  is  over.  Sir,  I want  it  conferred  now,  because  it 
is  my  most  solemn  and  earnest  conviction  that  General 
Grant  is  the  man  upon  whom  we  must  depend  to  fight  out 
this  rebellion  in  the  field,  and  bring  this  war  to  a speedy 
and  triumphant  close.” 

The  bill  passed ; there  being  only  nineteen  votes 
against  it. 

General  Grant  improved  the  cessation  of  field  opera- 
tions, in  planning  greater  things  for  the  future  ; in  issuing 
orders  to  protect  deserters  from  the  rebel  ranks,  cutting  off 
army  traders,  giving  security  to  the  property  of  loyal  citi- 
zens, and  in  providing  for  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers. 

"When  he  left  Chattanooga  on  a tour  of  inspection  to 
the  outposts  of  his  department,  accompanied  by  General 
Sherman,  there  was  much  regret  among  the  brave  fellows, 
who  had  learned  to  love  him.  They  had  seen  him  walk- 
ing with  a cane  about  the  streets,  slowly,  and  bowed  with 
suffering  and  care.  They  had  also  seen  him  “ riding  on 
the  battle’s  edge,”  its  guiding  genius,  all  forgetful  of  his 
weakness.  More  and  better  still  than  this  to  them,  the 
“ boys  ” could  say  : “ Then,  Grant  is  so  easy  to  approach.” 
He  invited  their  confidence,  and  never  repelled  them. 

“ General  Grant  will  have  no  one  between  him  and  his 
army  but  his  adjutant,  Brigadier-General  Rawlings,  who  is 
a hearty,  jovial,  plain-spoken,  hard-working  staff  officer, 
just  such  as  is  indispensable  to  an  energetic  chief  like 
‘ Old  Vicksburg.’  ” 

The  victor  sailed  in  the  steamer  “ Point  Rock  ” for 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


285 


Nashville,  thence  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.  It  was  now  mid- 
winter, but  the  indomitable  leader  determined  to  see  for 
himself  the  route  for  supplies  through  Cumberland  Gap. 
Down  the  mountain  sides  drifts  the  snow.  For  thirty 
years  no  such  winter  storms  had  howled  and  beaten 
aroimd  the  mountain  spurs.  See  the  yet  physically  un- 
sound man,  in  the  simplest  attire,  walking  over  the  diffi- 
cult paths,  with  his  officers,  all  driving  the  horses  before 
them.  He  would  take  nothing  second  hand,  and  there- 
fore rarely  made  blunders. 

At  Knoxville  the  excited  people  called  for  a speech ; 
but  he  refused.  Then  they  shouted  : “ Up  in  a chain 
that  we  may  see  him.” 

“ Half  pushed  by  General  Leslie  Coombs,  General 
Grant  mounted  the  improvised  rostrum.  General  Coombs 
then  introduced  him  in  a neat  little  speech,  in  which  he 
said  that  ‘ General  Grant  had  told  him  in  confidence — and 
he  would  not  repeat  it — that  he  never  had  made  a speech, 
knew  nothing  about  speech-making,  and  had  no  disposition 
to  learn.’  After  satisfying  the  curiosity  of  the  people,  but 
without  ever  having  opened  his  mouth,  General  Grant 
dismounted  from  his  chair  and  retired,  amid  the  cheers  of 
the  assemblage. 

“ His  arrival  at  the  Galt  House  was  not  generally 
known ; and  few,  who  had  not  looked  at  the  books,  sus- 
pected that  the  little  man  in  faded  blue  overcoat,  with 
heavy  red  whiskers,  and  keen,  bright  eyes,  the  hero  of 
the  two  rebel  Gibraltars  of  Vicksburg  and  Chattanooga, 


286 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


stood  before  them.  This  people  have  been  so  used  to  and 
surfeited  with  brilliantly  dressed  and  cleanly  shaven  staff 
officers,  with  every  pretence  star  or  double  star  that  has 
flitted  across  this  horizon,  that  they  never  dreamed  of 
recognizing  in  the  blue-overcoated  men  who  figured  in  the 
scene  with  him,  the  admirable  and  hard-working  staff 
officers  who  have  aided  in  no  little  degree  to  General 
Grant’s  success.” 

Having  opened  the  railway  from  Nashville  to  Chatta- 
nooga, to  the  joy  of  the  troops,  whose  fare  had  been 
meagre  enough  because  the  supplies  could  not  be  obtained, 
he  returned  to  the  latter  place  January  13  th. 

The  last  days  of  this  month  saw  our  hero  on  a new 
and  touching  journey.  A child  lay  sick  at  St.  Louis,  and 
the  warrior  was  lost  in  the  father.  His  family  attracted 
the  interest  of  his  manly  heart,  and  his  steps. 

Arriving  at  the  hotel,  he  entered  his  name  “ U.  S. 
Grant,  Chattanooga.”  The  invalid  was  soon  better ; and 
he  answered  a long  and  highly  flattering  letter  of  invi- 
tation to  a public  dinner,  in  a few  appropriate  words. 
He  said  : 

“ Gentlemen  : Your  highly  complimentary  invitation 
‘to  meet  old  acquaintances  and  make  new  ones,’  at  a din. 
ner  to  be  given  by  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  is  just  received. 

“ I will  state  that  I have  only  visited  St.  Louis  on  this 
occasion  to  see  a sick  child.  Finding,  however,  that  he 
has  passed  the  crisis  of  his  disease,  and  is  pronounced  out 
of  danger  by  his  physicians,  I accept  the  invitation.” 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


287 


After  visiting  the  University,  and  other  places  of  in- 
terest, Friday  evening,  January  29th,  1864,  the  banquet 
was  spread,  and  he  sat  down  to  it  amid  the  cheers  of  an 
enthusiastic  multitude. 

My  reader,  let  us  look  in  upon  the  festival,  at  six 
and  a half  o’clock  in  the  evening. 

The  three  long  tables  are  richly  laden  with  all  the 
variety  the  markets  afford.  At  the  centre  of  one  sits 
Judge  Treat,  the  president.  At  his  right,  you  notice  a 
man  of  medium  height,  with  sandy  hair  and  whiskers, 
both  short ; his  face  without  any  striking  expression,  ex- 
cepting the  compressed  lips — always  a mark  of  decision 
and  firmness ; his  blue  eye  mildly  and  modestly  glancing 
along  the  lines  of  enthusiastic  guests,  and  a flush  of  em- 
barrassment on  his  bronzed  cheeks  : that  is  General  Grant. 
On  the  left,  below  Generals  Rosecrans  and  Osterhaus,  sits 
a silver-haired,  hale,  and  attractive  old  gentleman  ap- 
proaching seventy ; this  happy  guest  is  Mr.  Dent,  the 
father-in-law  of  General  Grant.  Officers  and  “ honor- 
ables  ” are  scattered  among  the  two  hundred  guests ; 
while  that  parlor  opening  out  of  the  hall  is  radiant  with 
female  beauty  and  enthusiasm,  concentrating  the  light  of 
beaming  eyes  upon  the  plainest,  most  quiet  and  silent  par- 
taker of  the  festivities.  Over  the  splendid  display  of 
social  enjoyment  and  patriotic  hero-worship,  national  ban- 
ners are  hung  in  tasteful  drapings  against  the  elegant 
walls.  The  honor  of  “ the  distinguished  guest,  Major- 
General  Grant,”  is  proposed,  and  “Hail  to  the  chief” 


288 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


breaks  in  stirring  strains  from  tbe  polished  instruments  of 
the  band.  Now  its  echoes  die  away,  and  General  Grant, 
who  could  do  no  less,  rises.  “ Hurrah  ! hurrah  ! ” fairly 
rocks  the  spacious  saloons,  and  each  feature  of  every  guest 
speaks  the  intense  emotions  of  the  citizens  of  the  great 
Southwest. 

Never  did  a man,  great  or  small,  make  a briefer 
speech  than  did  “ Unconditional  Surrender  Grant,”  when 
a lull  in  the  cheering  made  it  possible.  He  said  : 

“ Gentlemen  : In  response,  it  will  be  impossible  for 
me  to  do  more  than  to  thank  you.” 

In  connection  with  the  toast  to  St.  Louis,  was  read  a 
letter  of  the  City  Council,  testifying  “ their  great  esteem, 
regard,  and  indebtedness  due  his  modest,  unswerving  ener- 
gies, swayed  neither  by  the  mighty  successes  which  have 
crowned  his  genius  and  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  Govern- 
ment, nor  the  machinations  of  politics — evidences  of  the 
true  patriot  and  soldier.” 

A punning  sentiment  was  also  given  : 

“Major-General  Grant  — He  is  emphatically  U.  S. 
Grant,  for  he  has  given  US  and  the  U.  S.  an  earnest  of 
those  victories  which  will  finally  rescue  this  nation  from 
the  Rebellion  and  its  cause — American  slavery.” 

When,  a little  later,  the  people  gathered  in  the  street, 
serenaded  the  honored  chief,  and  called  repeatedly  for  a 
speech,  he  only  said,  from  the  balcony  : 

“ Gentlemen  : I thank  you  for  this  honor.  I can- 
not make  a speech.  It  is  something  I have  never  done, 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


289 


and  never  intend  to  do,  and  I beg  you  will  excuse 
me.” 

Then  the  “ welkin  rang  again  ” with  cheers ; while 
the  object  of  them,  apparently  unmoved,  took  a cigar,  lit 
it,  and  seemed  more  interested  in  the  flashing  rockets 
rising  gracefully  and  exploding  overhead,  than  in  the 
crowd  below. 

Again  went  up  the  startling  cry  to  him,  “ Speech  ! 
speech  ! ” “ Puff — puff,”  answered  the  Havana.  No 

speech  followed  the  wreath  of  smoke. 

Judge  Lord,  considerably  excited,  touched  with  his 
hand  General  Grant’s  shoulder,  saying  : 

“ Tell  them  you  can  fight  for  them,  but  can’t  talk  to 
fhem.  Do  tell  them  that ! ” 

Coolly  replied  General  Grant : “ I must  get  some  one 
else  to  say  that  for  me.” 

But,  “ Speech  ! speech  ! ” continued  to  rend  the  night 
air,  till  he  was  compelled  to  add  : 

“ Gentlemen  : Making  speeches  is  not  my  business. 
I never  did  it  in  my  life,  and  never  will.  I thank  you, 
however,  for  your  attendance  here.” 

The  surging  throng  sent  up  once  more  the  shouts  of 
applause,  as  General  Grant  withdrew  to  seek  repose. 

Besieged  by  the  ladies  of  the  Sanitary  Fair  soon  to  be 
held  in  St.  Louis,  he  consented  to  remain.  A few  days 
after,  he  wrote  them  a letter  much  longer  than  any  speech 
he  ever  made,  expressing  grateful  appreciation  of  the  be- 
19 


290 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


nevolent  work  in  their  hands,  but  declining  attendance 
personally,  on  account  of  pressing  official  business. 

Thus  closed  a spontaneous,  hearty  expression  of  admi- 
ration and  respect  for  the  victorious  son  of  the  West. 

Politicians  were  getting  more  anxious  about  his  poli- 
tics, as  he  rose  in  the  popular  regard.  A relative  said  to 
him,  on  one  occasion  : 

“ General,  I have  been  inquired  of,  to-day,  about  your 
politics.” 

“ Did  you  give  the  parties  any  information  ? ” was  the 
quiet  query. 

“ I did  not,”  was  the  answer,  “for  T don’t  know  what 
your  politics  are.” 

Knocking  the  ashes  from  his  cigar,  the  General  con- 
tinued : 

“ When  I resided  at  the  South,  I had  the  opinions 
and  prejudices  of  Southern  people  against  the  Republican 
party.  I brought  those  opinions  and  prejudices  with  me 
when  I came  to  Illinois.  Had  I taken  active  part  in  poli- 
tics, I should  have  been  with  the  party  opposed  to  the 
Republicans.  I watched  Mr.  Lincoln’s  course,  and  was 
satisfied  with  his  patriotism.  But  these  are  not  the  times 
for  parties.  Indeed,  in  this  crisis  there  can  be  but  two 
parties — those  for  the  country,  those  for  its  foes.  I belong 
to  the  party  of  the  Union.  Those  who  are  the  most 
earnest  in  carrying  on  the  war  and  putting  down  the 
Rebellion,  have  my  support.  As  a soldier,  I obey  the 
laws  and  execute  the  orders  of  all  my  superiors.  I expect 
every  man  under  me  to  do  the  same.” 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Spring  Campaign— G-eneral  G-rant  at  "Washington— Scenes  in  the 
Hotel— The  Levee— The  Presentation  of  the  Commission  of  Lientenant- 
G-eneralship — General  Grant’s  Reply — The  summit  of  Honor — He  visits 
the  Potomac  Army — The  Fancy  Soldier — The  Crisis. 

tT  is  now  February.  Thoughts  of  the  spring  cam- 
paign fill  the  minds  of  President,  Cabinet,  and 
^3  generals.  No  brain  is  more  busy  than  General 
vvp  Grant’s.  Expeditions  are  sent  out  to  ascertain  the 
(s  position  and  force  of  the  enemy  ; but  no  definite, 
decisive  movement  is  arranged,  when  General  Grant  is 
called  to  Washington.  Taking  his  little  son  with  him, 
early  in  March  he  set  out  for  the  capital. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  at  “ Willard’s  Hotel,”  he  was 
recognized ; and,  as  he  took  his  seat  at  the  table,  the  sev- 
eral hundred  guests  arose,  and  loudly,  warmly  cheered 
him.  The  ladies  waved  the  white  handkerchiefs.  Hands 
were  extended,  and  a scene  similar  to  that  at  Memphis 
and  St.  Louis  transpired.  Such  has  always  been  the  hom- 
age of  the  people  to  their  successful  leaders — to  the  men 
who  wielded  victoriously  great  armies,  or  power  of  any 


292 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


kind.  And  it  is  a signal  fact,  tliat,  with  all  the  horrors  of 
war,  military  heroes  awaken  the  loudest  plaudits,  and  win 
the  greenest  laurels. 

At  evening  occurred  the  President’s  levee.  The  word 
levee  means  the  time  of  rising.  It  was  applied  to  a morn- 
ing assemblage  waiting  on  a prince.  In  this  country  it  is 
used  to  designate  the  gatherings  at  the  Executive  mansion 
at  night.  Whoever  wishes  to  go,  is  welcome  there.  The 
President  stands  in  one  of  the  elegant  rooms,  to  shake 
hands  with  the  throng  passing  him,  as  they  march  through 
the  halls  and  apartments.  The  hand  plays,  and  the  whole 
scene  is  a brilliant  exhibition  of  our  republican  country 
and  government.  At  one  moment,  the  Chief  Magistrate 
takes  the  delicate  palm  of  an  aristocratic  lady ; the  next, 
perhaps,  that  of  a poor  neighbor  whom  she  never  deigns 
to  notice. 

General  Grant,  on  this  occasion,  fairly  eclipsed  the 
President.  He  was  borne  along  by  the  human  tide,  and 
lifted  to  a sofa,  where  he  could  be  seen  by  them  all. 
Thus,  as  the  moon  controls  the  waters,  did  the  embar- 
rassed General,  without  effort  to  do  so,  attract  and  govern 
the  strong  currents  of  feeling,  sweeping  in  whatever 
direction  he  moved. 

Such  display  was  not  to  his  taste.  When  he  left  the 
gay  scene,  he  said  to  a friend : 

‘‘I  hope  to  get  away  from  Washington  soon,  for  I am 
tired  of  this  1 show  business.’  ” 

The  day  following — March  9th — he  was  summoned  to 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


293 


a more  quiet  meeting  at  the  “ White  House.”  President 
Lincoln  was  there,  his  Cabinet,  General  Halleck,  and  other 
officials. 

General  Grant  came  in,  and  the  President,  rising,  held 
in  his  hand  a document  creating  him  Lieutenant-General, 
and  said  : 

“ General  Grant  : The  nation’s  approbation  of  what 
you  have  already  done,  and  its  reliance  on  you  for  what 
remains  to  do  in  the  existing  great  struggle,  is  now  pre- 
sented with  this  commission,  constituting  you  Lieutenant- 
General  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States. 

“ With  this  high  honor  devolves  on  you  a correspond- 
ing responsibility.  As  the  country  herein  trusts  you,  so, 
under  God,  it  will  sustain  you. 

“ I scarcely  need  add,  that,  with  what  I here  speak 
for  the  country,  goes  my  own  hearty  personal  concur- 
rence.” 

General  Grant  received  the  commission  from  the  Presi- 
dent, and  made  the  following  modest  answer  : 

“ Mr.  President  : I accept  this  commission  with 
gratitude  for  the  high  honor  conferred.  With  the  aid  of 
the  noble  armies  who  have  fought  on  so  many  battle  fields 
for  our  common  country,  it  will  be  my  earnest  endeavor 
not  to  disappoint  your  expectations.  I feel  the  full  weight 
of  the  responsibility  now  devolving  on  me.  I know  that, 
if  it  is  properly  met,  it  will  be  due  to  these  armies ; and, 
above  all,  to  the  favor  of  that  Providence  which  leads 
both  nations  and  men.” 


294 


LIFE  OB'  GENERAL  GRANT. 


The  hero-boy  has  now  reached  the  summit  of  military 
honor  and  power  in  this  country.  Less  than  three  years 
before,  he  was  made  colonel  of  an  Illinois  regiment ; his 
command  has  rapidly  widened,  till  it  covers  the  entire  field 
of  conflict.  And  it  is  well  for  the  youth  of  our  land  that 
the  renown  was  earned  by  an  honest,  earnest,  upright,  and 
unassuming  devotion  to  his  country.  He  was  no  “ favor- 
ite of  fortune  ” beyond  that  of  a favoring  Providence 
blessing  a faithful  performance  of  duty. 

A few  days  before — February  2 2d,  the  anniversary 
of  "Washington’s  birthday — near  General  Warren’s  head- 
quarters, an  immense  ballroom,  erected  at  no  small  ex- 
pense, had  been  thronged  with  dancers.  I am  sure  I shall 
not  soon  lose  the  impression  the  unfinished  building  made 
on  my  mind,  when,  a few  weeks  before,  I saw  it.  A 
ballroom  on  a battle  field  ! But  the  ladies  from  a distance 
were  delighted  with  the  soldierly  frolic,  and  approached 
General  Grant  on  the  subject,  expressing  the  hope  there 
would  be  another  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

He  coolly  listened,  and  then  assured  them  that,  if 
another  were  attempted,  he  should  stop  it  by  special 
order.  It  was  no  time  or  place  for  music  and  dancing, 
excepting  the  martial  airs  and  firm  step  of  the  warriors, 
many  of  whom  were  soon  to  fall  in  the  strife. 

The  same  day  the  ball  came  off,  the  President  had 
issued  an  order  for  preparations  in  every  department  of 
the  army  for  an  early  advance.  For  this  grand  action 
General  Grant  was  ready.  It  suited  his  ideas  of  carrying 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


295 


on  the  war.  He  soon  revealed  his  purpose  to  move  on 
Richmond.  It  was  not  the  capital  mainly  he  wanted,  but 
to  crush,  or  fatally  cripple,  the  well-disciplined,  formidable 
army  under  the  splendid  leadership  of  General  Lee,  was  the 
serious  work  he  resolved  to  undertake.  Notwithstanding 
the  repeated  failures  before,  the  losses  and  retreats  of  the 
noble  Army  of  the  Potomac,  the  victor  of  the  West  was 
willing  to  try  his  strength  against  the  accomplished  com- 
mander of  “ the  flower  of  Southern  chivalry  ” in  the  East. 
But  one  condition  was  demanded  by  him,  and  granted — 
the  entire  control  of  the  army  for  one  hundred  days. 
That  is,  for  that  period  the  campaign  should  be  his  own ; 
he  would  assume  the  high  responsibility  ^f  its  success, 
with  no  interference  from  Washington,  however  well  or 
wisely  intended.  This  arrangement  gave  unity  of  plan 
and  harmony  in  action.  He  soon  visited  the  able  and 
gallant  General  Meade,  the  hero  of  Gettysburg,  at  his 
headquarters,  and  inspired  new  confidence  and  hope  in 
officers  and  troops.  Strict  discipline  was  enforced.  The 
speculators  and  hangers-on  in  the  field  began  to  disappear. 
Fancy  soldiering  was  made  contemptible,  as  it  ought  to  be. 
A pleasant  story  related  of  General  Grant  illustrates  his 
course  in  regard  to  it : 

While  he  was  looking  over  his  new  field,  near  Culpep- 
per Court  House,  his  headquarters,  in  a drizzling  rain, 
attended  only  by  his  orderly,  a carriage  approached  him. 
It  was  drawn  by  a pair  of  fine  horses,  and  attendants 
escorted  it.  When  near  him,  the  driver  reined  up,  the 


296 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


door  was  opened,  and  out  sprang  a dashing  officer.  He 
inquired  if  that  dripping,  unostentatious  man  was  General 
Grant.  The  latter  replied  in  the  affirmative.  The  officer 
added,  that  he  wished  to  see  the  General  on  business. 

“ Come,  walk  with  me,”  answered  General  Grant. 

There  was  no  other  way  to  do.  Into  the  mud  went 
the  polished  boots ; and  unprotected  from  the  rain,  the 
gay  uniform  was  worn,  till,  like  a peacock  after  a tempest 
has  beaten  down  its  plumage  and  besprinkled  it  with  dirt, 
the  officer  stole  back  to  the  carriage  with  soaked,  saturated 
apparel,  and  drooping  feather.  The  parting  counsel  of  his 
commander  to  set  an  example  of  a more  becoming  style 
of  living,  was  thus  enforced  by  a baptism  into  the  new 
order  of  things  he  was  not  likely  to  forget. 

The  nation,  inspirited  by  the  grand  successes  of  the 
Lieutenant-General,  held  breath  in  view  of  the  great  and 
decisive  crisis  reached.  Three  years  of  bloody  war, 
which  it  was  supposed  three  months  would  close,  had  left 
their  mournful  record.  The  strain  to  supply  “ the  sinews 
of  war  ” had  been  increasing  every  year.  Men  and 
money  had  been  given  lavishly.  Great  victories  had  been 
won.  Still,  the  army  which  we  first  confronted  on  the 
“ sacred  soil  of  Virginia,”  and  the  capital  of  the  grow- 
ingly  desperate  “ Confederacy,”  were  apparently  stronger 
than  ever.  It  was  no  vainglorious  nor  ordinary  act,  to 
step  forth  into  such  a condition  of  affairs,  the  master-spirit 
of  the  vast  and  momentous  issue. 

But  the  time  of  renewed  and  costly  activity  has  come. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


297 


God’s  finger  has,  it  seems,  designated  the  man  for  the 
hour  and  the  work. 

We  find  another  good  story,  which  sounds  like  the 
General.  A visitor  to  the  army  called  upon  him,  one 
morning,  and  found  the  General  sitting  in  his  tent,  smok- 
ing, and  talking  to  one  of  his  staff  officers.  The  stran- 
ger approached  the  chieftain,  and  inquired  of  him  as 
follows : 

“ General,  if  you  flank  Lee,  and  get  between  him  and 
Richmond,  will  you  not  uncover  Washington,  and  leave  it 
a prey  to  the  enemy  ? ” 

General  Grant,  discharging  a cloud  of  smoke  from  his 
mouth,  indifferently  replied  : “Yes,  I reckon  so.” 

The  stranger,  encouraged  by  a reply,  propounded  ques- 
tion No.  2 : “ General,  do  you  not  think  Lee  can  detach 
sufficient  force  from  his  army  to  reenforce  Beauregard  and 
overwhelm  Butler  ? ” 

“ Not  a doubt  of  it,”  replied  the  General. 

Becoming  fortified  by  his  success,  the  stranger  pro- 
pounded question  No.  3,  as  follows  : “ General,  is  there 
not  danger  that  General  Johnston  may  come  up  and  re- 
enforce Lee,  so  that  the  latter  will  swing  round  and  cut 
off  your  communications,  and  seize  your  supplies  ? ” 

“Very  likely,”  was  the  cool  reply  of  the  General,  and 
he  knocked  the  ashes  from  the  end  of  his  cigar. 

The  stranger,  horrified  at  the  awful  fate  about  to  befall 
General  Grant  and  his  army,  made  his  exit,  and  hastened 
to  Washington  to  communicate  the  news. 


298 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


A Galena  neighbor,  who  visited  New  York  about  this 
time,  seemed  utterly  confounded  with  the  sudden  growth 
of  his  neighbor,  the  tanner.  He  couldn’t  account  for  it, 
for  he  was  not  a marked  man  in  his  home,  and  nobody 
supposed  him  a great  man.  He  seldom  talked,  asked  no 
advice,  gave  none  to  any  one,  but  always  did  what  he 
agreed  to,  and  at  the  time. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


The  Advance — Richmond — The  path  to  the  Bebel  Capital — The  ::  Wilder- 
ness The  opening  of  Battle— The  Days  of  Carnage — The  Death  of 
Sedgwick — Of  General  Rice — General  G-rant's  Strategy — General  But- 
ler— Sheridan — Sherman — The  grand  Flanking  March  to  North  Anna — 
Chickahominy— James  River— What  the  Rebels  think. 


) LANCE  over  the  prospective  track  of  the 
grand  army,  reenforced  by  several  corps  from 
the  "Western  field.  A hundred  and  seventeen 
miles  from  Washington  lie3  Richmond,  the 
<2^  capital  of  the  “ Old  Dominion,”  and  of  the 
new  Confederacy  of  slaveholders.  Its  population,  ordi- 
narily, did  not  exceed  sixty  thousand.  The  situation  is 
pleasant,  on  the  James  River.  A3  a war  centre,  it  has 
become  a great  hospital  and  Sodom.  The  sick  and 
wounded  in  body,  and  the  corrupt  in  heart,  are  the  ruling 
majority  in  the  high  place  of  treason,  second  only  to 
Charleston  in  this  distinction.  Under  the  accomplished 
engineer,  Beauregard,  who,  since  the  first  year  of  the 
conflict,  has  multiplied  defences,  exhausting  his  skill  and 
resources,  it  presents  circles  and  angles  of  fortifications, 


300 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


perhaps  unsurpassed  by  any  city  in  the  world.  Below 
Richmond  is  Fort  Darling ; and  on  the  same  side,  to 
guard  an  approach,  is  Petersburg,  also  strongly  fortified 
and  garrisoned.  Between  the  National  capital  and  Rich- 
mond lies  Lee’s  veteran  army,  waiting  for  Generals  Grant 
and  Meade  to  move.  The  former  has  the  general  direction 
of  the  grand  campaign,  while  General  Meade  is  commander 
of  the  Potomac  Army.  Culpepper  Court  House,  ten  miles 
north  of  the  Rapidan,  between  it  and  the  Rappahannock, 
and  about  seventy-five  miles  from  Washington,  is  the 
headquarters  of  General  Grant.  Ten  miles  on  the  other, 
or  south  side  of  the  river,  at  Orange  Court  House,  is  the 
Confederate  host.  The  two  vast  armies  are,  therefore, 
twenty  miles  apart.  Their  pickets  come  to  the  banks  of 
the  stream,  and  sometimes  joke  across  it,  and  pass  papers 
and  tobacco  to  each  other. 

General  Lee  has  for  several  months  been  anticipating 
another  attempt  to  cut  a way  to  Richmond,  whose  Libby 
Prison — worse  than  death  to  our  captive  heroes — had 
awakened  the  strongest  indignation  at  the  North. 

May  3d,  1864,  the  order  is  issued  by  General  Grant 
to  march.  The  myriad  tents  disappear  in  the  night  like 
frostwork  before  the  sun ; the  knapsacks  are  packed,  the 
rations  secured,  and  the  arms  seized.  Horses  stand  by 
thousands  in  the  darkness,  prancing  for  the  fray,  or  har- 
nessed to  the  heavy  wagons. 

The  next  day  dawns  upon  a sadly  magnificent  array. 
Freedom’s  battalions,  two  hundred  thousand  strong,  cover- 
% 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


301 


ing  miles  of  scarred  and  desolate  ground,  are  pressing  for- 
ward to  the  bugle’s  blast,  into  the  bloodiest  contest  of  the 
war. 

General  Grant’s  military  capacity  and  strategy  appear 
in  this  greatest  campaign  of  the  age.  It  extends  over  a 
vast-  field  of  movements,  from  Mobile,  which  he  intends 
General  Banks  to  look  after,  to  Richmond,  including 
Sigel’s  and  Sherman’s  expeditions.  Failure  anywhere 
must  affect,  more  or  less,  the  success  of  the  whole.  Trust- 
ing his  generals  and  Providence  in  the  stupendous  plan, 
the  time  for  action  has  come. 

He  does  not  hurl  his  battalions  against  those  of  Lee, 
protected  by  'the  strongest  intrenchments,  but  moves 
round  to  the  eastward.  His  plan  is,  to  get  past  the  right 
wing,  and  between  the  enemy  and  Richmond.  Then,  Lee 
must  come  out  of  his  war  den,  and  try  to  stop  his  adver- 
sary, or  fall  back  on  his  capital. 

Right  across  General  Grant’s  path  lies  the  “ 'Wilder- 
ness.” This  is  a tract  of  land  a dozen  miles  or  more  long, 
and  about  five  in  width,  in  Spottsylvania  County,  Va.  It 
runs  nearly  along  the  bank  of  the  Rapidan.  Oh,  what  a 
place  for  an  advancing  army  ! See  the  tangled  scrub-oak 
bushes,  deep,  ragged  gullies,  ravines  with  steep  sides,  and, 
scattered  on  every  hand,  patches  of  swamp.  No  roads 
invite  the  steps  of  the  martial  host.  A few  narrow  paths, 
called  roads,  cross  the  sterile  woods ; and  an  occasional 
clearing,  with  a tavern  and  a few  rough  habitations,  re- 
lieve the  desolation.  On  the  skirt  of  this  forest  is  Chan- 
eellorsville,  where  Hooker  fought  his  disastrous  battle. 


302 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


May  4tli,  the  Union  columns  cross  the  Rapidan  with 
pontoon  bridges.  The  youthful  "Warren  leads  the  Fifth 
Corps,  the  lion-hearted  Sedgwick  the  Sixth — both  cross- 
ing at  the  Germania  Ford.  The  Second  Corps,  imder  the 
gallant,  splendid  Hancock,  makes  the  passage  at  Ely’s 
Ford ; the  Ninth,  under  the  noble  Burnside,  remaining  as 
reserve  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river.  Wednesday 
night  the  troops  sleep  on  the  quiet  shore  toward  the  foe. 

May  5th  pours  its  light  over  the  uprisen,  marshalled 
ranks  of  the  Union.  Forward  into  the  “ Wilderness  ” 
they  are  led  by  their  bravely  confident  chief. 

May  5th,  just  as  they  are  turning  to  sweep  along  and 
around  the  enemy’s  lines,  aids  from  General  Sheridan’s 
horsemen,  who  had  been  pushing  southeastward,  come 
back  with  despatches.  General  Meade,  a tall,  thin  man,  a 
little  stooping  in  the  shoulders,  breaks  the  seal,  and  reads. 
The  next  moment  he  turns  to  General  Grant,  remarking  : 

“ They  say  that  Lee  intends  to  fight  us  here.” 

“ Very  well,”  coolly  replies  General  Grant. 

Then  they  step  aside,  and  talk.  The  Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral smokes,  and  whittles  in  musing  mood  while  he  con- 
verses. ILe  now  changes  the  direction  of  the  cutting  from 
him,  and  with  quicker  motion.  He  has  matured  his  plan. 
Action  will  swiftly  follow. 

Like  the  collision  of  rushing  engines  will  be  the  shock. 
Lee  is  determined  to  crush  through,  and  break  the  equally 
resolute  ranks  of  our  unshrinking  “ boys.”  Again  and 
again  Ewell’s  and  Hills’s  corps  dash  upon  the  columns  of 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


303 


"Warren  and  Hancock,  concentrating  on  the  centre,  which 
is  now  the  weakest  point. 

You  know,  to  cut  the  army  in  two,  anywhere,  makes 
sad  work — often  ending  in  shameful  defeat. 

The  sun  sets  in  smoke,  and  its  beams  are  reflected 
from  pools  of  blood.  The  battle  thunders  on  ! The  dark- 
ness creeps  over  the  forest  plain  of  death,  and  still,  like 
angry  phantoms,  the  warriors  move  to  and  fro.  Hancock 
seems  inspired  with  the  awful  enthusiasm  of  unearthly 
power,  and  mows  down  the  foe,  while  his  own  ranks  sink 
before  the  scythe  of  the  destroying  angel. 

After  a brief  respite,  on  Friday,  the  6th,  Longstreet, 
having  come  to  the  aid  of  Lee,  the  same  desperate  game 
to  break  our  lines  is  tried  with  renewed  energy.  Back 
and  forth  in  the  dense  thickets,  among  ravines  and  in 
swamps,  the  swaying  masses  of  armed  men  rush,  shout, 
and  fight.  Many,  alas  ! fall,  to  rise  no  more. 

As  night  comes  down,  away  upon  the  extreme  right 
swing  with  terrible  force  the  columns  of  the  enemy.  Like 
chaff  before  the  tempest  are  hurried  Seymour’s  and  Sha- 
ler’s  brigades,  and  the  generals  taken  prisoners.  A little 
farther  success,  and  the  wedge  is  fairly  driven  through, 
cutting  off  the  army  from  its  supplies  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river,  with  which  they  were  connected.  It  is  well  for 
us  the  darkness  wraps  the  scene,  and  hides  the  greatness 
of  the  disaster  to  us  from  our  foe. 

Lee  retires.  Even  General  Grant — who,  as  one  that 
fought  then  said  to  me,  “ wouldn't  know  when  he  was 


304 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


whipped  ” — breathed  more  freely.  When  told,  you  recol- 
lect, that  our  lines  were  giving  way,  and  the  men  flying, 
he  calmly  replied,  “ I don’t  believe  it ! ” This  confidence 
in  his  cause  and  his  men  has  ever  been  a source  of  great 
strength,  reassuring  his  troops,  if  apparently  overborne  for 
a moment. 

The  third  sanguinary  day  has  closed,  and  no  eye  can 
see  the  end  of  the  fearful  struggle — whether  to  the  Be- 
public  it  shall  be  victory  or  defeat.  So  far  it  resembles, 
more  than  any  part  of  the  civil  war,  the  fighting  of  the 
Indian  tribes  which  once  roamed  unmolested  there  ; madly 
closing  in  the  combat,  here  and  there,  sending  the  missiles 
of  death  from  thicket  and  behind  trees,  and  piling  the 
dead  in  every  possible  shape,  sometimes  in  rows  like  the 
cradled  grain. 

I know  a young  soldier,  who,  in  the  darkness,  was 
seized  by  a stout  rebel,  and  his  gun  taken.  He  was  a 
prisoner,  and  already  seemed  to  see  Libby  Prison,  when  a 
shell  came  between  him  and  his  captor,  laying  him  on  the 
ground,  while  the  “ Union  boy  ” made  quick  step  toward 
our  troops. 

Saturday,  the  9th,  has  dawned,  and  again  there  is  the 
rattle  of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  artillery  from  our 
troops.  But  no  reply  is  made  by  the  foe.  He  was  fall- 
ing back  deliberately,  ready  to  pause  and  grapple  again 
with  Grant  whenever  necessary. 

On,  the  long  lines  of  hostile  troops,  with  all  the  dread 
machinery  of  war.  move  toward  Spottsylvania  Court 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


305 


House,  both  anxious  to  secure  the  position.  The  Confed- 
erate troops  first  reach  it,  and  make  a stand,  protected  by 
fortifications. 

The  Sabbath  brings  only  a partial  cessation  of  the  con- 
flict. Over  the  vast  field,  at  intervals,  is  the  deadly  meet- 
ing of  the  combatants.  There  are  tents  of  prayer,  and 
Christian  words  are  spoken  to  listening  ears.  Men  are 
thoughtful  out  of  the  bloody  strife,  at  such  a time  of  con- 
stant peril. 

Monday  finds  the  rations  low.  The  caravan  of  supply 
wagons  arrives  at  the  moment  of  need.  The  hours  fly, 
and  an  onset  is  made  upon  divisions  of  our  forces,  with  no 
result  besides  death.  Look  off  to  that  conspicuous  spot  in 
the  hue  of  conflict.  There,  among  the  artillery  of  his 
corps,  stands  the  cool,  intrepid,  accomplished  Sedgwick. 
He  is  directing  the  gun  mounting.  The  bullets  of  the 
sharpshooters  whistle  around  him.  The  artillerymen  in- 
voluntarily dodge.  General  Sedgwick  smiles,  and  says  : 
“ Don’t  duck,  men.  They  couldn’t  hit  an  elephant  that 
distance.”  The  words  scarcely  escape  his  lips,  before  a 
well-directed  ball  pierces  his  head.  He  falls  into  the  arms 
of  his  adjutant ; the  bloody  foam  wreathes  those  lips ; a 
smile  follows,  and  all  is  over.  One  of  the  bravest  and 
noblest  of  the  army,  after  three  years  of  successful  ser- 
vice, has  yielded  up  his  manly  life. 

Now,  with  advancing  night,  several  divisions  of 
Grant’s  troops  cross  the  branches  of  the  Mattapony,  and 
the  struggle  is  renewed.  Every  step  of  progress  is  stained 
20 


306 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


with  blood.  Like  a half  moon,  see  the  white  tents  and 
the  battle  array  of  the  rebel  ranks  around  Spottsylvania 
Court  House.  Over  against  them,  with  broader  curve, 
lies  the  Union  army.  Both  are  waiting,  and  preparing, 
too,  for  another  general  clash  of  arms. 

Tuesday  opens  a terrific  contest.  The  contending 
columns  meet,  and  shout  in  the  delirium  of  wildest  war. 
Men  and  horses  go  down  in  ridges.  The  wounded  are 
borne  on  every  side  from  their  ghastly  bed. 

General  Grant  sends  his  first  despatch  to  "Washington. 
It  reveals  at  once  his  consciousness  of  fatal  havoc,  and  yet 
unyielding  courage  and  hope  : 

“ We  have  now  ended  the  sixth  day  of  very  heavy 
fighting.  The  result,  to  this  time,  is  very  much  in  our 
favor.  Our  losses  have  been  heavy,  as  well  as  those  of 
the  enemy.  I think  the  loss  of  the  enemy  must  be 
greater.  We  have  taken  over  five  thousand  prisoners  in 
battle,  while  he  has  taken  from  us  but  few  stragglers. 
I propose,  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line , if  it  takes  all 
summer." 

Among  the  killed  was  the  Christian  hero,  Brigadier- 
General  Kice.  He  sent  to  his  wife,  before  he  fell,  the 
patriotic  words,  “I  have  been  true  to  my  country.”  And, 
after  the  fatal  wound  was  received,  he  desired  to  have  his 
face  turned  to  the  enemy  while  life  ebbed  away.  But 
what  is  better,  when  asked,  by  a delegate  of  the  Christian 
Commission,  how  Christ,  the  Captain  of  our  salvation, 
appeared  then — “ Oh,  Jesus  is  very  near  ! ” 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT.  307 

Such  are  the  battle  scenes  of  this  tremendous  war. 

The  next  message  of  General  Grant,  dated  the  12th, 
was  as  follows : 

“ The  eighth  day  of  battle  closes,  leaving  between 
three  and  four  thousand  prisoners  in  our  hands  for  the 
day’s  work,  including  two  general  officers,  and  over  thirty 
pieces  of  artillery.  The  enemy  are  obstinate,  and  seem  to 
have  found  the  last  ditch.  We  have  lost  no  organization, 
not  even  a company,  while  we  have  destroyed  and  cap- 
tured one  division,  one  brigade,  and  one  regiment  entire 
of  the  enemy.” 

A storm  now  sets  in.  The  rain  drenches  the  wound- 
ed, and  compels  a respite  to  the  sanguinary  and  protracted 
contest.  Richmond  is  yet  fifty  miles  distant. 

The  awful  loss  of  troops,  and  the  strength  of  Lee’s 
army,  leaves  but  small  prospect  of  getting  to  Richmond 
on  this  side.  General  Grant,  with  a comprehensive  and 
daring  strategy,  is  determined  to  swing  his  whole  army 
around  on  the  south  side  of  the  capital,  and  make  James 
River  the  ba^e  of  supplies.  In  that  part  of  the  grand 
field  of  operations,  there  had  been  bold  movements.  Gen- 
eral Butler  had  sent  an  expedition  up  York  River  to  "West 
Point,  to  make  the  enemy  believe  he  was  going  across  the 
peninsula  to  Richmond.  The  map  will  make  this  plain. 
Butler,  however,  dropped  down  again,  and  up  James 
River,  landing  at  City  Point,  fifteen  miles  from  Richmond. 
His  object  was,  to  cut  the  railroads,  and  prevent  Beaure- 
gard from  helping  Lee,  and  take  Port  Darling  also.  But 


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LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  enemy  came  out  of  the  fort,  and  heat  him  back  again 
to  his  intrenchments. 

General  Sheridan,  meanwhile,  with  the  cavalry,  had 
swept  around  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  and,  crossing 
the  North  Anna  River,  went  into  the  outer  defences  of 
Richmond,  destroying  railways,  &c.  General  Sigel,  in 
"Western  Virginia,  had  been  defeated.  The  able  and  gal- 
lant Sherman  was  advancing  from  Chattanooga  against 
General  Joe  Johnston,  toward  Atlanta. 

At  daybreak  on  Thursday,  the  Second  Corps  are 
moving,  not,  indeed,  in  the  grand  flanking  curves  from 
point  to  point  around  the  enemy,  but  with  fixed  bayonets 
down  upon  his  works.  Still  and  resolute,  through  the 
forest  they  go,  over  ravines.  Now,  nearing  the  rebel  lines, 
with  a wild  shout  and  run,  they  are  upon  the  foe.  In  five 
minutes,  Major-General  Johnson,  Brigadier-General  Stew- 
art, and  three  thousand  prisoners  are  captured,  with 
eighteen  cannon  and  twenty-two  standards.  All  day  the 
swaying  lines  fill  the  heavens  with  the  rattle  of  musketry. 
Lee  at  length  is  compelled  to  fall  back  again  toward  Rich- 
mond. General  Grant  hurries  after  to  the  North  Anna 
River.  Combats  follow. 

Sunday  comes  once  more,  and  the  cavalry  ride  upon 
each  other’s  front  with  desperate  heroism.  The  sacred 
hours  pass  over  the  wild  and  terrific  conflict.  At  Coal 
Harbor  is  a deadly  meeting  by  our  Sixth  and  Eighteenth 
Corps,  with  Longstreet  and  Breckinridge. 

Several  of  the  army  surgeons  were  afraid  to  come  to 


i|rv. ' 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


309 


the  field  of  duty  to  the  'wounded.  General  Grant  heard 
of  it.  To  use  the  words  of  a wounded  soldier,  who 
admires  the  Chief: 

“ Old  Grant  sent  word,  that,  if  they  did  not  report  at 
once,  he  would  have  them  arrested.  And  they  were  on 
hand  in  a hurry,  I tell  you.” 

The  army  is  now  on  the  Chickahominy,  ten  miles 
from  Richmond.  General  Grant  sees  that  his  only  hope- 
ful movement  is  the  daring  push  across  to  the  James 
River,  on  the  south  of  Richmond. 

Some  of  the  greatest  work  of  war  is  the  least  noisy. 
The  grandest  results  in  nature  and  in  life  are  secured 
in  silence.  General  Grant’s  safe  removal,  almost  in 
the  enemy’s  face,  of  his  vast  army,  across  rivers,  and  an 
enemy’s  country,  to  James  River,  was  one  of  these  rare 
and  splendid  achievements.  It  astonished  General  Lee, 
and  came  near  costing  him  the  great  stronghold  lying 
between  the  new  base  and  Richmond.  But  reenforce- 
ments reaching  the  city,  our  troops  were  forced  to  yield  in 
the  struggle  for  the  prize. 

A gentleman  of  high  editorial  position  called  on  Mrs. 
Grant,  when  she  was  in  New  York — “a  plain,  sensible, 
quiet  woman,  who  takes  the  world  as  a matter  of  course.” 
He  alluded  to  the  high  position  of  her  husband,  and  ap- 
pealed to  her  ambition  to  see  how  much  vanity  lurked 
under  the  unassuming  surface.  She  listened ; then,  with 
no  perceptible  change  in  manner,  replied  : 

“ Mr.  Grant  ” (so  she  always  calls  him)  “ had  sue- 


310 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


ceeded  below,  and,  when  lie  was  called  to  this  position,  he 
thought  it  w.as  his  duty  to  try  what  he  could  do.” 

“We  then  expressed  a hope  that  he  would  succeed, 
and  that  he  would  take  Richmond. 

“ ‘Well,  I don’t  know.  I think  he  may.  Mr.  Grant 
always  was  a very  obstinate  man.’  ” 

It  is  further  said  that  the  following  conversation  oc- 
curred : 

“ If  General  Grant  succeeds,  he  may  want  to  be 
President.” 

“ But  he  is  Lieutenant-General.” 

“ Yes ; but  when  a man  can  be  elected  President,  it 
must  be  a strong  temptation.” 

“ I don’t  know.  There  have  never  been  but  two  lieu- 
tenant-generals of  the  United  States — General  Washing- 
ton and  General  Scott.  There  have  been  a number  of 
Presidents ; for  instance,  such  men  as  Prank  Pierce  and 
James  Buchanan  ! ” 

No,  it  would  hardly  be  ambition  which  would  lead  a 
lieutenant-general  to  wish  to  be  President. 

Truly,  “Mrs.  Grant,  you  are  a sensible  woman,  and 
Mr.  Grant  is  an  ‘ obstinate  man.’  ” 

Here  is  a touching  story  about  a soldier  boy  found  on 
the  Virginia  battle  field  : 

“ He  lay  severely  wounded.  He  had  fallen  the  day  be- 
fore, and  had  remained  unmolested  within  the  rebel  lines. 
They  had  not  removed  him,  and  he  was  almost  alone  with 
the  dead  when  I rode  up.  The  poor  fellow  was  crawling 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


311 


about  gathering  violets.  Faint  with  the  loss  of  blood, 
unable  to  stand,  he  could  not  resist  the  tempting  flow- 
ers, and  had  already  made  a beautiful  bouquet.  Having 
caused  a stretcher  to  be  sent  for,  I saw  him  taken  up  ten- 
derly and  borne  away,  wearing  a brave,  sweet,  touching 
smile.” 

Brave  boy ! Lover  of  nature,  too.  Between  the 
hours  of  musing  over  visions  of  home,  he  plucked  the  mod- 
est, fragrant  blossoms  from  the  hostile  soil  stained  with  his 
own  blood,  and  made  a bouquet ; such  an  one,  perhaps,  as 
a sister,  whose  eye  of  love  is  blue  as  the  violet,  or  the  sky 
above  his  bed  of  earth,  had  arranged  for  him  in  the  yard 
or  garden  which  was  pressed  by  his  tender  feet. 

An  incident  related  of  General  Grant,  while  besieging 
Bichmond,  is  certainly  characteristic.  He  was  walking 
around  the  docks  at  City  Point,  when  he  stopped  to  see 
some  negroes  roll  a barrel  of  bacon  on  board  of  a boat. 
The  negroes  were  unable  to  move  it,  when  a crusty  lieu- 
tenant, who  stood  near,  dressed  in  his  fine  blue  clothes, 
shouted : “ You  niggers,  push  harder,  or  go  get  another 
man  to  help  you ! ” Without  saying  a word,  General 
Grant  pulled  up  his  sleeves,  and  helped  the  negroes  roll 
the  barrel  on  the  boat ; then  he  drew  his  silk  handker- 
chief from  his  pocket,  and  wiped  his  hands,  and  moved 
quickly  away.  You  may  imagine  how  that  second  lieu- 
tenant felt,  when  he  was  told  that  the  stevedore  was  no 
less  than  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  United  States 
armies.  The  General  was  dressed  in  coarse  homespun. 


312 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


with  his  hat  drawn  over  his  eyes,  and  one  of  the  most 
unpretending-looking  personages  one  could  imagine. 

As  if  to  cheer  us  in  the  quiet  of  our  armies  at  home, 
June  14th,  1864,  occurred  a naval  engagement,  which 
sent  a thrill  of  wild  exultation  over  the  land.  The  famous 
and  victorious  pirate  “ Alabama,”  which  had  been  ordered 
by  the'  French  Government  to  leave  the  port  of  Cher- 
bourg, met  the  United  States  steamer  “ Kearsarge,”  about 
seven  miles  from  the  harbor.  The  noble  vessel  was 
named  after  a lordly  summit  among  the  White  Hills — one 
of  the  body  guards  of  Mount  Washington.  It  is  pro- 
nounced there  as  if  it  were  spelled  Keer-sarge. 

The  combat  was  terrible.  Balls  and  shell  flew  until 
the  thunder  of  the  ordnance  shook  the  ships,  and  the 
smoke  of  the  conflict  hung  darkly  over  the  sea. 

After  an  hour  of  lightning  and  hail  from  ship  toward 
ship,  the  dark,  bloody  leviathan  of  treason  began  to  reel 
before  the  blows  of  the  “ Kearsarge.” 

A few  moments. later,  and  tbe  waters  closed  over  the 
pipes  from  which  the  breath  of  the  monster’s  fiery  heart 
had  escaped. 

The  captain — the  guilty  Semmes — and  his  crew  were 
saved  from  a watery  grave  by  the  English  yacht  “ Deer- 
hound,” commanded  by  Captain  Lancaster.  Another  evi- 
dence of  English  sympathy  with  the  rebels,  which  has 
been  mainly  felt  by  the  aristocratic  classes  there,  and  else- 
where in  Europe. 

Week  after  week  passes  with  no  important  change  in 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


313 


the  aspect  of  the  impending  struggle.  A rebel  view  of 
this  suspense  will  interest  you.  The  Constitutionalist , of 
Augusta,  Ga.,  frankly  writes  of  General  Grant’s  strong 
position,  in  an  amusing  way.  It  is  an  estimate  of  Gen- 
eral Grant  and  prophecy  of  the  result  of  his  siege  : 

“ The  second  danger  is  of  the  siege  of  Richmond. 
Some  of  our  cotemporaries,  and  the  most  of  our  corre- 
spondents, laugh  at  this ; and  yet  Grant  has  it  in  his 
power  to  besiege  the  capital,  or  force  an  attack  on  him- 
self, or  force  an  evacuation  of  Richmond.  Not  that  he 
has  his  choice  of  these  three  things,  but  can  force  that 
choice  upon  us.  In  Grant’s  moving  upon  the  south  of 
Richmond,  and  threatening  James  River  near  the  city, 
General  Lee  has  choice  of  two  evils.  If  he  keeps  ahead 
of  Grant,  and  holds  the  Petersburg  line  inviolate,  that 
flanker  necessarily  gets  between  him  and  Richmond,  and 
walks  into  the  city  at  his  leisure.  If  Lee  keeps  between 

Richmond  and  Grant,  the  latter,  of  course,  gets  between 

* 

him  and  the  Southern  States’  communication,  and  cuts  off 
the  only  source  of  supplies  now  left,  as  the  valley  of  Vir- 
ginia is  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  If  Lee  wants  to 
save  Petersburg  and  Richmond  both,  he  will  have  to 
attack  Grant  in  one  of  his  craw-fish  movements,  and  will 
have  to  attack  the  position  and  intrenchments  which  the 
grand  spade-and-pick  army  never  exists  an  hour  without. 

“ In  our  judgment,  the  plan  of  the  campaign  is  at  last 
developed.  "Western  Virginia,  the  valley  and  • its  re- 
sources, is,  by  the  movement  on  Staunton  and  Lexington, 


314 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


to  be  rendered  unavailable  for  provisions.  Grant  is  to 
throw  his  army  into  fortifications  across  the  railroads  from 
Richmond  south,  and  so  cut  off  our  army  supplies.  Thus 
the  starvation  of  a siege  will  be  as  effectually  secured,  as 
if  an  army  could  be  found  large  enough  to  surround  the 
legions  of  Lee,  as  Grant  did  General  Pemberton ; provided, 
of  course,  that  the  Danville  Road  shares  the  fate  that  the 
"Weldon  Road  probably  will.  If  General  Lee  chooses  to 
stop  the  game  by  a fight,  he  has  to  put  his  finger  on  the 
slippery  Grant,  and  stop  his  flea-like  flankings  ; and,  hav- 
ing found  him  and  stopped  him  for  a fight,  will  have  to 
charge  the  hills  Grant  will  occupy  and  the  trenches  Grant 
will  dig.  We  lose  Richmond  if  we  hold  the  Weldon 
and  Danville  Railroads ; we  lose  the  railroads  if  we  save 
Richmond ; or  we  attack  Grant  in  his  mighty  trenches  if 
we  try  to  save  both.  It  is  true  that  General  Beauregard 
could  still  keep  south  of  Grant,  and  prevent  raids  into 
South  Carolina,  but  could  not  keep  him  from  stopping  the 
roads  south,  unless  he  has  enough  men  to  attack  Grant  in 
reverse,  and  place  him  between  two  fires.  We  hope 
Grant  thinks  he  has.  This  is  a game  with  no  possible 
hindrance,  perfectly  plain  to  even  such  unmilitary  compre- 
hension as  our  own,  and  we  respectfully  submit  that  there 
is  no  fun  in  it.” 

To  General  Lee  it  was  plain  enough  that  something 
must  be  done  to  frighten,  and,  if  possible,  weaken  Gen- 
eral Grant. 

A force  of  twenty  thousand,  or  more,  was  sent  toward 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


315 


"Washington  to  threaten  it.  General  Grant  informed  the 
War  Department,  it  is  affirmed,  that  troops  had  gone  into 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  under  General  Early.  Whether 
this  be  true  or  not,  we  were  unprepared  for  the  raid. 
Onward  the  rebels  swept  toward  Maryland,  burning  and 
pillaging  as  they  went.  This  was  early  in  July. 

On  the  3d,  the  President  issued  a call  for  three 
months’  troops  to  repel  invasion. 

On  the  8th,  the  rebels  attacked  Hagerstown,  Md.,  and 
sacked  the  city. 

On  Saturday,  the  9th,  a battle  took  place  between  the 
forces  under  General  Wallace  and  the  rebels  at  Monocacy, 
commencing  at  nine  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and  continuing 
until  five  in  the  afternoon,  when,  overpowered  by  the 
superior  numbers  of  the  enemy,  our  forces  were  obliged  to 
retreat  in  disorder,  with  severe  loss.  The  fighting  on 
both  sides  was  desperate,  much  of  it  being  hand  to  hand 
in  an  open  field.  The  enemy  advanced  in  three  lines  of 
battle,  covered  by  their  batteries,  but  were  for  hours  kept 
at  bay  by  our  artillery.  Our  loss  was  probably  one  thou- 
sand in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  General  Tyler  was 
captured,  and  several  officers  were  killed.  No  guns  or 
flags  were  lost.  The  strength  of  the  enemy  was  some 
fifteen  thousand,  while  that  of  General  Wallace  was  only 
five  thousand. 

The  intelligence  of  General  Wallace’s  defeat  occa- 
sioned the  greatest  excitement  in  Baltimore.  The  bells 
were  rung,  the  citizens  mustered  for  service  in  the  de- 


316 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


fences,  and  every  possible  precaution  taken  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  city.  At  midnight  on  Saturday,  Governor 
Bradford  and  Mayor  Chadman  issued  a proclamation,  de- 
claring the  city  to  be  in  imminent  danger,  and  calling  on 
every  loyal  citizen  to  prepare  at  once  to  avert  the  peril. 
During  the  whole  of  Sunday  the  city  was  under  arms,  and 
the  work  of  erecting  additional  defences  went  vigorously 
forward.  At  one  time  a report  reached  the  city  that  the 
rebels  were  but  seven  miles  distant ; but  later  accounts  do 
not  seem  to  confirm  the  statement.  A proclamation  was 
also  issued  on  Sunday  by  Governor  Curtin,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, appealing  to  the  people  to  come  forward  for  the 
defence  of  their  State. 

On  Sunday  morning,  a force  of  four  or  five  hundred 
rebel  cavalry  dashed  into  Rockville,  Md.,  sixteen  miles 
from  Washington,  and,  after  plundering  the  stores  and 
stealing  all  the  cattle  and  horses  they  could  find,  left  in  the 
direction  of  Frederick ; but,  before  they  left,  they  sent  to 
the  Virginia  side  all  their  plunder.  Persons  who  came 
from  the  upper  fords  reported  that  the  rebels  were  con- 
veying large  numbers  of  cattle,  horses,  hogs,  and  sheep, 
stolen  from  the  farmers  along  the  river,  across  into  Vir- 
ginia, and  that  every  ford  was  held  by  small  rebel  cavalry 
forces  and  sections  of  batteries.  They  carried  off  several 
thousand  head  of  cattle,  and  from  eight  hundred  to  one 
thousand  valuable  horses. 

The  Northern  Central  Railroad — running  from  Balti- 
more to  Harrisburg — was  cut  near  Cockeysville,  twelve 
miles  north  of  Baltimore. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


317 


On  Monday  the  rebels  made  rapid  progress  toward 
Baltimore  and  Washington,  being  within  seven  miles  of 
the  former  city,  and  six  miles  of  the  capital.  They  cut 
the  telegraph  communication  between  Philadelphia  and 
Washington,  at  Magnolia  station,  where  they  intercepted 
a large  number  of  despatches,  among  them  one  from 
Secretary  Stanton  to  General  Cadwallader.  Here  they 
captured  a passenger  train  from  Baltimore,  and  robbed  the 
conductor  and  passengers.  General  Franklin  and  another 
general,  name  not  known,  were  taken  prisoners,  together 
with  all  the  soldiers  in  the  train.  The  station  was  then 
burned  down. 

The  telegraph  wires  that  cross  the  Susquehanna  River 
at  Port  Deposit,  Md.,  were  also  cut.  Communication 
between  Harrisburg  and  Washington  was  destroyed.  It 
is  understood  that  at  least  eight  bridges  were  destroyed  on 
the  Northern  Central  Railroad,  between  Moncton  and 
Cockeysville. 

The  enemy,  on  their  approach  to  Baltimore,  burned 
the  residence  of  Governor  Bradford,  three  miles  from 
Baltimore,  completely  to  the  ground,  stating  that  they  had 
orders  to  do  so  from  General  Bradley  Johnson,  in  retalia- 
tion for  the  destruction  of  Governor  Letcher’s  house  in 
Virgina  by  General  Hunter. 

Telegraphic  communication  between  Washington  and 
Baltimore  was  cut,  leaving  the  States  north  in  awful  sus- 
pense respecting  the  result  of  the  bold  invasion. 

On  the  evening  of  July  12th,  a charge  was  made  upon 


318 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


the  enemy  in  front  of  Fort  Stevens,  and  our  line  was 
advanced  beyond  the  house  of  F.  P.  Blair,  Sr.,  thus  driv- 
ing the  rebels  from  their  position.  In  this  charge  we  had 
three  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  rebel  loss 
exceeded  ours. 

The  arrival  of  (General  Burnside’s)  veteran  troops  at 
the  capital  was  timely ; and  the  enemy  retired  across  the 
Potomac  during  the  night. 

The  only  success  of  their  invasion  of  Maryland  wras 
the  acquisition  of  supplies  of  all  kinds,  which  they  took 
off  in  large  quantities.  While  in  the  possession  of  Fred- 
erick, the  rebels  levied  a fine  of  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  which  was  paid  to  save  the  city  from  destruction. 
They  swept  the  surrounding  country  of  horses,  cattle, 
sheep,  and  hogs,  driving  large  herds  toward  the  Po- 
tomac. 

General  Grant  held  on  to  his  position,  “ unterrified 
and  unseduced  ” from  his  grapple  with  the  foe.  The 
President  remarked,  one  day,  during  the  attack  upon  Fort 
Stevens,  to  a friend  who  was  somewhat  alarmed  at  the 
tardiness  of  General  Grant  in  forwarding  troops  to  the 
capital : 

“ General  Grant  has  as  much  at  stake  as  any  man  in 
the  country  in  the  management  of  the  campaign.  He 
knows  very  well,  if  the  rebels  should  capture  Wash- 
ington, that  not  even  the  fall  of  Richmond  would  compen- 
sate for  the  national  calamity  and  disgrace.  He  would 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


'319 


lose  liis  reputation  as  a general.  He  knows  it ; and  I 
shall  trust  him.” 

You  will  he  amused  with  the  manner  in  which  Gen 
eral  Franklin,  who  was  captured  in  the  cars  near  Balti- 
more, escaped.  He  was  taken  to  a rebel  encampment, 
and'  put  in  charge  of  guards.  He  lay  down,  tired  with 
the  hard  and  rapid  travel,  and  feigned  sleep.  He  listened, 
and  took  a peep,  now  and  then,  to  see  if  they  slept. 

One  after  another,  supposing  he  was  in  deep  slumber, 
they  gave  themselves  up  to  repose. 

General  Franklin  then  stole  cautiously  away,  making 
noise  enough  to  be  sure  the  guards  were  not  deceiving 
him , till  he  was  over  a fence  not  far  off;  then,  he  assures 
us — and  we  may  believe  him — he  ran  for  his  life  and  lib- 
erty. In  the  daytime  he  hid  in  the  bushes,  and  could  hear 
the  enemy  near. 

At  length  hunger  and  fatigue  compelled  him  to  show 
himself.  Soon  he  saw  a man  in  the  woods  carrying  hay. 
He  walked  up  boldly,  and  asked  him  what  he  was  doing 
with  that  hay. 

“ Oh.  I am  trying  to  conceal  it  from  the  rebs,  who  are 
leaving  nothing  they  can  take  away.” 

This  answer  gave  him  hope.  Making  himself  known, 
he  was  cared  for  by  the  Union  farmer,  and  escorted  into 
Baltimore. 

July  26th,  General  Grant  made  another  movement  of 
his  army,  which  displayed  the  strategy  of  the.  great 
flanker.  A part  of  his  host  were  ordered  to  the  north  of 


320 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


James  River;  pressing  thus  upon  the  enemy  gradually, 
but  surely,  with  his  anaconda-like  coil. 

The  next  day,  a line  of  outer  intrenchments,  and  four 
cannon,  were  captured. 

The  29th  was  a dark  day  for  Chambersburg,  Pa.  A 
cavalry  raid  of  the  rebels  laid  the  beautiful  town  in  ruins. 
Many  of  the  people  who,  just  before,  were  in  the  midst 
of  plenty,  had  not  left  a meal  or  a change  of  apparel. 

July  30th,  early  in  the  morning,  there  was  an  unusual 
stir  at  the  headquarters  of  General  Burnside.  Unknown 
to  all  excepting  the  engineers  and  a few  officers,  General 
Grant  had  been  successfully  mining  one  of  the  enemy’s 
main  batteries.  It  was  in  General  Burnside’s  front.  At 
half  past  three,  the  fuse  was  fired.  But  it  burned  slowly 
in  the  long,  damp  entrance.  Soon  after  four  o’clock  a 
loud  report  startled  the  enemy.  Another  moment,  and 
the  air  was  filled  with  earth  and  timbers,  and  men.  Suc- 
cessive shocks,  like  those  of  an  earthquake,  shook  the 
land.  Then  opened  a terrific  cannonading.  A hundred 
guns  thundered  along  the  lines,  and  toward  the  breach, 
forty  rods  in  width,  rushed  our  heroic  “ boys.”  The 
Ninth  Army  Corps  made  the  charge. 

You  will  notice  that,  wherever  the  fault  of  a failure  to 
capture  the  strongly  fortified  place  may  be  laid  by  differ- 
ent writers,  it  is  evident,  from  their  losses  in  that  breach  of 
death,  the  “ slaughter  pen  ” it  became,  the  negroes  were  no 
cowards. 

At  five  and  a half  o’clock  the  charge  was  made,  and 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


321 


the  fort,  with  part  of  the  line  each  side,  was  carried  in  the 
most  brilliant  style. 

The  Second  Division,  which  was  in  the  centre,  ad- 
vanced and  carried  the  second  line,  a short  distance  be- 
yond the  fort,  and  there  rested,  holding  their  ground  with 
the  utmost  determination. 

It  was  at  this  time  the  colored  division,  under  com- 
mand of  Brigadier-General  White,  was  pushed  forward 
and  ordered  to  charge  and  carry  the  crest  of  the  hill, 
which  would  have  decided  the  contest. 

The  troops  advanced  in  good  order  as  far  as  the  first 
line,  when  .they  received  a galling  fire  which  checked 
them ; and,  although  quite  a number  kept  on  advancing, 
the  greater  portion  seemed  to  become  utterly  demoralized, 
part  of  them  taking  refuge  in  the  fort,  and  the  balance 
running  to  the  rear  as  fast  as  possible. 

They  were  rallied  and  again  pushed  forward,  but  with- 
out success,  the  greater  part  of  their  officers  being  killed 
or  wounded. 

During  this  time  they  seemed  to  be  without  any  one 
to  manage  them,  and  finally  they  fell  back  to  the  rear,  out 
of  the  range  of  the  volleys  of  canister  and  musketry  that 
were  plowing  through  their  ranks'. 

Their  losses  are  very  heavy,  particularly  in  officers,  as 
will  be  seen  by  the  following  figures  : 

Twenty-third  U.  S.  Colored. — Fifteen  officers  killed 
and  wounded  ; four  hundred  men,  including  the  missing. 

Twenty-eighth  U.  S.  Colored. — Eleven  officers,  and 
21 


322 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing. 

Twenty-seventh  U.  S.  Colored. — Six  officers  and 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing. 

Twenty-ninth  U.  S.  Colored. — Eight  officers,  and 
about  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  men  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing. 

Thirty-first  U.  S.  Colored. — Seven  officers,  and 
about  two  hundred  men  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

Forty-third  U.  S.  Colored. — Six  officers,  and  a 
large  number  of  men  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

Thirty-ninth  U.  S.  Colored. — Several  officers,  and 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing. 

The  loss  in  the  Second  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps, 
General  Ledlie  commanding,  was  very  severe,  and  is  esti- 
mated at  from  one  thousand  to  twelve  hundred,  while 
many  make  the  figure  larger. 

Among  the  missing,  was  the  name  of  General  Bartlett. 
He  succeeded  in  reaching  the  fort  with  his  command,  but, 
having  accidentally  broken  his  cork  leg,  he  was  unable  to 
get  off  the  field.  He,  however,  held  possession  of  the 
ground  for  several  hours,  and  only  surrendered  when  all 
hope  of  escape  was  gone.  Some  two  hundred  men,  both 
black  and  white,  were  with  him  at  the  time,  a few  of 
whom  managed  to  get  back  to  our  lines  amid  a storm  of 
bullets. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


323 


The  high  hope  of  a great  victory  which  was  kindled 
with  the  first  telegram  that  flew  over  the  North,  was 
quenched  by  the  nest  tidings  of  a repulse. 

The  rebels  had,  to  some  extent,  prepared  for  such  an 
attack.  From  their  works  they  were  able  to  pour  an  en- 
filading fire  upon  our  troops,  before  which  they  could  not 
stand. 

The  golden  opportunity  that  followed  the  terror  of  the 
explosion  which  laid  open  the  works  to  our  army,  was  lost. 
Why,  is  not  yet  known.  But  no  one  suspects  General 
Grant  of  any  blame  in  this  great  failure,  which  prolonged 
the  dreadful  war. 

Oh,  my  reader,  what  a sad  sight,  after  the  fruitless 
slaughter,  was  presented  ! Wrote  one  who  was  there  : 

“ After  the  battle  of  Saturday,  General  Burnside  sent 
a flag  of  truce  to  the  enemy  with  a view  to  recovering  the 
wounded  and  burying  the  dead  lying  between  the  lines, 
and  whom  it  had  been  impossible  to  approach  owing  to 
the  continued  firing.  After  some  little  signalling,  the 
rebels  acknowledged  and  came  forward  to  meet  it.  The 
communication  was  received  and  forwarded  by  them  to  the 
authority  with  whom  the  power  rests,  Our  officers  sought 
permission  to  succor  the  wounded  while  waiting,  and  it 
was  granted.  Accordingly,  the  poor  fellows,  who  had 
been  lying  on  the  ground  nearly  twenty-four  hours — a por- 
tion of  the  time  in  the  blazing  sun — were  given  each  a 
drink  of  brandy  and  water.  The  crater  of  the  mined  fort 
was  plainly  in  view ; but  the  rebels  refused  to  allow  any 


324 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


approach  to  it,  and  the  wounded  near  it  were  supplied  by 
the  rebels  themselves.  The  agonies  of  the  wounded  were 
awful.  Unable  to  move,  not  daring  to  make  even  a sig- 
nal,  lest  it  would  attract  an  unfriendly  bullet,  they  had  lain 
twenty-four  hours  without  food  or  water.  The  two  past 
days  had  been  the  warmest,  as  yet,  of  this  summer,  and 
they  were  subjected  to  the  merciless  rays  of  a scorching 
sun.  The  dead  presented  a sickening  sight.  There  were 
both  white  men  and  negroes ; but  now  it  is  difficult  to 
distinguish  them  apart.  Their  bodies  were  swollen  and 
bloated,  and  their  faces  blackened  by  the  sun. 

“ Although  the  rebels  refused  a flag  of  truce  on  Sun- 
day, to  enable  us  to  bury  the  dead  and  remove  the 
wounded,  from  five  to  nine  o’clock  on  Monday  was 
granted  for  this  purpose.  Very  few  were  found  alive — 
not  more  than  a dozen ; and  but  a few  of  these  are  ex- 
pected to  recover.  The  ground  in  front  of  the  crater  was 
thickly  covered  with  the  dead  bodies,  the  colored  soldiers 
being  in  the  proportion  of  four  to  one  of  the  white,  the 
colored  troops  having  experienced  the  heaviest  fire  at  this 
place.  The  work  of  burying  the  dead  was  finished  about 
half  past  ten,  and  firing  was  commenced  by  the  rebels  ten 
minutes  afterward.” 

And  yet  the  “ boys  ” uncomplainingly  bore  it  all. 

The  well  men  had  often  hard  fare,  but  were  even 
cheerful  and  happy.  Hear  what  another  says  ; 

“ One  afternoon,  about  five  o’clock,  I found  myself 
seated  beside  an  artilleryman  belonging,  I believe,  to  a 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


325 


battery  from  Rhode  Island,  who  had  a long  and  weari- 
some march  from  the  front,  on  one  of  the  hottest  of  hot 
days,  and  afterward  had  b.een  obliged,  with  his  compan- 
ions, to  strain  every  muscle  to  get  the  guns,  caissons, 
horses,  &c.,  on  board  the  boat  in  the  shortest  possible 
period.  The  time  had  come  to  eat  his  dinner,  which  was 
his  supper  as  well — hard  tack,  cold  coffee,  raw  pork. 
’Without  a single  word  of  complaint,  he  soaked  his  hard 
tack  in  the  coffee,  drank  up  the  coffee  to  the  last  drop,  and 
picked  his  pork  clean  to  the  rind.  ‘ There,’  said  he,  as  he 
finished  a meal  more  frugal  than  Cato’s,  and  wiped  and 
shut  up  his  knife,  ‘ I have  often  sat  down  to  a fuller  meal 
with  a less  appetite,  and  enjoyed  a good  supper  far  less 
than  I have  done  this  ! ’ Fortunately,  it  was  in  my  power 
to  add  something  to  his  pork  and  hard  tack.  But  oh, 
what  a lesson  to  the  lazy,  luxurious,  discontented  grum- 
blers at  home  ! If  they  cannot  feel  the  moral  of  such  a 
story,  they  are  beyond  hope.” 

A week  later,  General  Lee  tried  the  underground 
work,  to  see  what  he  could  accomplish.  General  Grant 
was  too  wide  awake  for  the  wary  chieftain.  He  had  sunk 
a shaft,  which  our  men  thought  was  a well  for  General 
W arren’s  corps,  which  went  right  into  one  of  the  enemy’s 
passages. 

This  discovery,  with  a poor  engineering  which  failed 
to  estimate  rightly  the  distance,  spoiled  the  affair. 

The  cannon  suddenly  opened — the  dust  and  smoke  rose 
outside  of  our  works,  and  that  was  all ! 


\ 


326  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 

On  the  4 th  day  of  August,  the  following  noble  order 
was  read  to  the  army  ; 


Headquarters,  AkMY  of  the  Potomac,  August  3, 1864. 

To-morrow,  the  4th  inst,,  having  been  set  apart  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States  as  a day  of  National  fasting,  humiliation,  and 
prayer,  the  Major-General  Commanding  calls  upon  his  fellow  soldiers 
to  observe  the  day  with  the  solemnities  due  to  the  occasion  ; and  he 
recommends  that,  wherever  practicable,  religious  services  be  held  in 
the  several  camps  by  the  chaplains  serving  with  the  army;  and  he 
commands  that  all  operations  that  are  not  matters  of  military  neces- 
sity, be  suspended  during  the  day. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Meade. 

The  very  next  day,  Admiral  Farragut,  or  “ Old  Sala- 
mander,” entered  Mobile  Bay  in  triumph,  having  con- 
quered the  rebel  fleet  and  silenced  the  forts  at  its  entrance, 
after  a brilliant  engagement. 

The  18th  brought  a decisive  change  in  the  movements 
of  the  Potomac  Army.  General  Grant  threw  his  troops 
across  the  Weldon  Railroad — a very  important  path  of 
supplies  toward  the  South.  The  enemy  fought  hard  to 
dislodge  our  brave  fellows,  but  General  Warren  beat  him 
back  in  gallant  style. 

The  chivalrous  Hancock,  the  incarnation  of  heroism, 
who  was  helping  destroy  the  railroad,  on  the  25th  had  a 
terrible  battle  ; but — as  he  always  does — held  his  ground, 
and  slaughtered  the  rebels. 

During  these  scenes  on  the  Potomac,  the  equally  brave 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


327 


and  brilliant  Sherman  was  moving  upon  and  around 
Atlanta,  Ga,,  another  stronghold  and  very  important  cen- 
tre of  their  army  munitions  and  supplies. 

A copy  of  the  record  on  a sword  presented  General 
Grant  by  the  citizens  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  111.,  gives  a 
“ bird’s-eye  ” view  of  his  military  career  ; 

Palo  Alto,  May  Sth,  1846. 

Resaca  de  la  Palma,  May  9th,  1846. 

Monterey,  September  19th,  .20th,  21st,  1846. 

Vera  Cruz,  April  18th,  1847. 

Molino  del  Rey,  September  8th,  1847. 

City  of  Mexico,  September  14th,  1847. 

Belmont,  November  7th,  1861. 

Fort  Henry,  February  6th  and  7th,  1862. 

Fort  Donelson,  February  13th,  14th,  15th,  and  16th, 
1862. 

Shiloh,  April  6th  and  7th,  1862. 

Corinth  siege,  April  22d  to  May  20th,  1862. 

Iuka,  September  19th,  1862. 

Hatchie,  October  5th,  1862. 

Tallahatchie,  December  1st,  1862. 

Port  Gibson,  May  12th,  1863. 

Black  River  Bridge,  May  7th,  1863. 

Champion  Hill,  May  14th,  1863. 

Black  River,  May  17th,  1863. 

Vicksburg,  July  4th,  1863. 

Chattanooga,  November  23d,  24th,  25th,  and  26th, 
1863. 


328 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


Battles  for  Richmond,  May  5th,  6th,  7th,  8th,  9th, 
10th,.  11th,  and  12th,  1864. 

General  Grant  has  in  one  respect  been  only  the  boy 
grown ; that  is,  in  his  unpretending,  uniform,  taciturn,  yet 
pleasant  bearing.  He  can  converse  finely,  but  is  reserved. 
Seldom  laughing  or  weeping,  his  aspect  is  not  repulsive, 
but  quite  otherwise,  wearing  ever  an  expression  of  a smile 
ready  to  spread  over  his  plain,  marked  features.  He  uses 
no  “ vain  repetitions,”  content  to  say  a thing  once  dis- 
tinctly. 

Brave,  true  in  his  motives,  speech,  and  policy,  firm 
and  resolute  in  action,  possessing  great  fortitude,  he  fears 
no  emergency  necessary  to  success,  calmly  relying  upon 
Providence  for  results  beyond  his  control ; the  crowning 
glory  of  character  in  his  splendid  career,  is  the  absence,  in 
a word  or  act,  of  a selfish  ambition — that  “ mountain 
devil,”  in  the  language  of  AYillis,  which  has  often  made 
the  gifted  general  a trifler  with  life  and  liberty. 

The  brave  and  able  General  McPherson,  killed  near 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  General  Sherman’s  army,  and  who 
knew  well  both  him  and  the  Lieutenant-General,  just 
before  his  death  used  the  following  language  to  a friend. 
It  is  just,  and  especially  interesting  because  from  the 
gifted  and  departed  McPherson  : 

“ Lieutenant-General  U.  S.  Grant  I regard  as  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  men  of  our  country.  Without 
aspiring  to  be  a genius,  or  possessing  those  characteristics 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


329 


which  impress  one  forcibly  at  first  sight,  his  sterling  good 
sense,  calm  judgment,  and  persistency  of  purpose,  more 
than  compensate  for  those  dashing,  brilliant  qualities  which 
are  apt  to  cap't-ivate  at  a first  glance.  To  know  and  appre- 
ciate General  Grant  fully,  one  ought  to  be  a member  of 
his  military  family. 

“ Though  possessing  a remarkable  reticence  as  far  as 
military  operations  are  concerned,  he  is  frank  and  affable, 
converses  well,  and  has  a peculiarly  retentive  memory. 
When  not  oppressed  with  the  cares  of  his  position,  he  is 
very  fond  of  talking,  telling  anecdotes,  &c. 

“ His  purity  of  character  is  unimpeachable,  and  his 
patriotism  of  the  most  exalted  kind.  He  is  generous  to  a 
fault,  humane  and  true,  and  a steadfast  friend  to  those 
whom  he  deems  worthy  of  his  confidence,  and  can  always 
be  relied  upon  in  case  of  emergency. 

“ Major-General  W.  T.  Sherman  is  what  might  be 
called  a brilliant  man,  possessing  a broad  and  comprehen- 
sive intellect.  A rapid  thinker  and  ready  writer,  fertile  in 
his  resources  and  untiring  in  his  exertions,  he  possesses 
those  characteristics  which  forcibly  impress  you  at  first 
sight.  He  has  mingled  largely  with  the  world,  and  has 
tried  various  professions  ; has  read  and  reflected  much, 
and,  having  a remarkably  retentive  memory,  is  well  in- 
formed on  most  subjects  which  come  within  the  scope  of 
human  thought.  He  is  of  a much  more  excitable  tem- 
perament than  General  Grant,  and  more  apt  to  be’ swayed 
by  impulses,  though  his  judgment  is  not  so  cool  and  reli- 


330 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


able.  In  other  words,  though  a more  brilliant  man,  he 
does  not  possess  that  sterling  good  common  sense  which 
preeminently  distinguishes  General  Grant. 

“ He  is,  however,  a most  brave  and  generous  man, 
thoroughly  in  earnest,  and  ready  to  sacrifice  everything 
for  the  good  of  his  country.  He  is  a true  friend,  and 
thoroughly  unselfish ; and  there  are  no  better  men — or 
few,  at  least — than  General  Sherman.” 

How  touchingly  beautiful,  in  connection  with  this  high 
testimony,  is  the  correspondence  which  follows  : 

“ Clyde,  Ohio,  August  3,  1864. 

“ To  General  Grant  : 

“ Dear  Sir  : I hope  you  will  pardon  me  for  troubling 
you  with  the  perusal  of  these  few  lines  from  the  trembling 
hand  of  the  aged  grandma  of  our  beloved  General  James 
B.  McPherson,  who  fell  in  battle.  When  it  was  an- 
nounced at  his  funeral,  from  the  public  print,  that  when 
General  Grant  heard  of  his  death,  he  went  into  his  tent 
and  wept  like  a child,  my  heart  went  out  in  thanks  to  you 
for  the  interest  you  manifested  in  him  while  he  was  with 
you.  I have  watched  his  progress  from  infancy  up.  In 
childhood  he  was  obedient  and  kind ; in  manhood,  inter- 
esting, noble,  and  persevering,  looking  to  the  wants  of 
others.  Since  he  entered  the  war,  others  can  appreciate 
his  worth  more  than  I can.  When  it  was  announced  to 
us  by  telegraph  that  our  loved  one  had  fallen,  our  hearts 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


331 


were  almost  rent  asunder ; but  when  we  heard  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  could  weep  with  us  too,  we  felt,  sir,  that 
you  have  been  as  a father  to  him,  and  this  whole  nation  is 
mourning  his  early  death.  I wish  to  inform  you  that  his 
remains  were  conducted  by  a kind  guard  to  the  very  par- 
lor where  he  spent  a cheerful  evening  in  1861  with  his 
widowed  mother,  two  brothers,  an  only  sister,  and  his  aged 
grandmother,  who  is  now  trying  to  write.  In  the  morn- 
ing he  took  his  leave  at  sis  o’clock,  little  dreaming  he 
should  fall  by  a ball  from  the  enemy.  His  funeral  services 
were  attended  in  his  mother’s  orchard,  where  his  youthful 
feet  had  often  pressed  the  soil  to  gather  the  falling  fruit ; 
and  his  remains  are  resting  in  the  silent  grave  scarce  half 
a mile  from  the  place  of  his  birth.  His  grave  is  on  an 
eminence  but  a few  rods  from  where  the  funeral  services 
were  attended,  and  near  the  grave  of  his  father. 

“ The  grave,  no  doubt,  will  be  marked,  so  that  passers 
by  will  often  stop  and  drop  a tear  over  the  dear  departed. 
And  now,  dear  friend,  a few  lines  from  you  would  be 
gratefully  received  by  the  afflicted  friends.  I pray  that 
the  God  of  battles  may  be  with  you,  and  go  forth  with 
your  arms  till  rebellion  shall  cease,  the  Union  be  restored, 
and  the  old  flag  wave  over  our  entire  land. 

“ With  much  respect,  I remain  your  friend, 

“ Lydia  Slocum, 

“Aged  87  years  and  4 months.” 


332 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


GENERAL  GRANT’S  REPLY. 

“ Headquarters  Armies  of  the  U.  S.,  > 
City  Point,  Ya.,  Aug.  10,  1864.  ) 

“ Mrs.  Lydia  Slocum  : 

“ My  dear  Madam  : Your  very  welcome  letter  of 
the  3d  instant  has  reached  me.  I am  glad  to  know  that 
the  relatives  of  the  lamented  Major-General  McPherson 
are  aware  of  the  more  than  friendship  existing  between 
him  and  myself.  A nation  grieves  at  the  loss  of  one  so 
dear  to  our  nation’s  cause.  It  is  a selfish  grief,  because 
the  nation  had  more  to  expect  from  him  than  from  almost 
any  one  living.  I join  in  this  selfish  grief,  and  add  the 
grief  of  personal  love  for  the  departed.  He  formed,  for 
some  time,  one  of  my  military  family.  I knew  him  well; 
to  know  him  was  to  love.  It  may  be  some  consolation  to 
you,  his  aged  grandmother,  to  know  that  every  officer  and 
every  soldier  who  served  under  your  grandson  felt  the 
highest  reverence  for  his  patriotism,  his  zeal,  his  great, 
almost  unequalled  ability,  his  amiability,  and  all  the  manly 
virtues  that  can  adorn  a commander.  Your  bereavement 
is  great,  but  cannot  exceed  mine. 

“Yours  truly,  U.  S.  Grant.” 

We  pause  here,  with  the  tidings  most  cheering  from 
every  part  of  the  vast  theatre  of  war. 

The  exact  posture  of  affairs  is  clearly  and  well  ex- 
pressed in  the  subjoined  letter  to  the  Hon.  Mr.  Washburn, 
of  Illinois : 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


333 


“ Headquarters  Armies  of  the  U.  S.,  ) 
City  Point,  Va.,  Aug.  16,  1864.  f 
“ Dear  Sir  : I state  to  all  citizens  who  visit  me,  that 
all  we  want  now  to  insure  an  early  restoration  of  the 
Union,  is  a determined  unity  of  sentiment  North. 

“ The  rebels  have  now  in  their  ranks  their  last  man. 
The  little  boys  and  old  men  are  guarding  prisoners,  guard- 
ing railroad  bridges,  aifd  forming  a good  part  of  their  gar- 
risons or  intrenched  positions.  A man  lost  by  them  can- 
not be  replaced.  They  have  robbed  the  cradle  and  the 
grave  equally  to  get  their  present  force.  Besides  what 
they  lose  in  frequent  skirmishes  and  battles,  they  are  now 
losing  from  desertions  and  other  causes  at  least  one  regi- 
ment per  day.  With  this  drain  upon  them,  the  end  is  not 
far  distant,  if  we  will  only  be  true  to  ourselves.  Their 
only  hope  now  is  in  a divided  North.  This  might  give 
them  reenforcements  from  Tennesese,  Kentucky,  Mary- 
land, and  Missouri,  while  it  would  weaken  us.  With  the 
draft  quietly  enforced,  the  enemy  would  become  de- 
spondent, and  would  make,  but  little  resistance. 

“ I have  no  doubt  but  the  enemy  are  exceedingly 
anxious  to  hold  out  until  after  the  Presidential  election. 
They  have  many  hopes  from  its  effects.  They  hope  a 
counter  revolution.  They  hope  the  election  of  the  peace 
candidate.  In  fact,  like  Micawber,  they  hope  for  some- 
thing to  ‘ turn  up.’  Our  peace  friends,  if  they  expect 
peace  from  separation,  are  much  mistaken.  It  would  be 
but  the  beginning  of  war,  with  thousands  of  Northern 


334 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


men  joining  the  South  because  of  our  disgrace  in  allow- 
ing separation.  To  have  ‘ peace  on  any  terms,’  the  South 
would  demand  the  restoration  of  their  slaves  already 
freed  ; they  would  demand  indemnity  for  losses  sustained, 
and  they  would  demand  a treaty  which  would  make  the 
North  slave  hunters  for  the  South ; they  would  demand 
pay  for  or  the  restoration  of  every  slave  escaped  to  the 
North.  Yours  truly, 

“U.  S.  Grant.” 

I am  sure  you  will  read  with  pleasure  the  evidence  of 
the  entire  confidence  existing  between  the  President  and 
General  Grant,  the  additional  letters  will  afford.  They 
have  quietly  gone  from  the  White  House  of  the  capital, 
and  the  headquarters  of  the  Lieutenant-General,  since  the 
latter  took  the  Virginia  field  : 

“ Lieutenant-General  Grant  : 

“ Not  expecting  to  see  you  before  the  spring  cam- 
paign opens,  I wish  to  express,  in  this  way,  my  entire 
satisfaction  with  what  you  have  done  up  to  this  time,  so 
far  as  I understand  it.  The  particulars  of  your  plans  I 
neither  know  nor  seek  to  know.  You  are  vigilant  and 
self-reliant ; and,  pleased  with  this,  I wish  not  to  obtrude 
any  restraints  or  constraints  upon  you.  While  I am  very 
anxious  that  any  great  disaster  or  capture  of  our  men  in 
great  numbers  shall  be  avoided,  I know  that  these  points 
are  less  likely  to  escape  your  attention  than  they  would  be 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


335 


mine.  If  there  be  anything  -wanting  which  is  within  my 
power  to  give,  do  not  fail  to  let  me  know  it.  And  now, 
with  a brave  army  and  a just  cause,  may  God  sustain  you. 

“Yours,  very  truly,  A.  Lincoln.” 

“ The  President  : 

“ Your  very  kind  letter  of  yesterday  is  just  received. 
The  confidence  you  express  for  the  future,  and  satisfaction 
for  the  past,  in  my  military  administration,  is  acbnowl* 
edged  with  pride.  It  shall  be  my  earnest  endeavor  that 
you  and  the  country  shall  not  be  disappointed.  Prom 
my  first  entrance  into  the  volunteer  service  of  the  country 
to  the  present  day,  I have  never  had  cause  of  complaint, 
have  never  expressed  or  implied  a complaint  against  the 
Administration,  or  the  Secretary  of  War,  for  throwing 
any  embarrassment  in  the  way  of  my  vigorously  prose- 
cuting what  appeared  to  be  my  duty.  Indeed,  since  the 
promotion  which  placed  me  in  command  of  all  the  armies, 
and  in  view  of  the  great  responsibility  and  importance  of 
success,  I have  been  astonished  at  the  readiness  with 
which  everything  asked  for  has  been  yielded,  without 
ev'en  an  explanation  being  asked. 

“ Should  my  success  be  less  than  I desire  and  expect, 
the  least  I can  say  is,  the  fault  is  not  with  you. 

“Very  truly,  your  obedient  servant, 

“ U.  S.  Grant,  Lieut.-General.” 

Over  the  immense  territory  of  States  which  belonged 


336 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT. 


to  the  rebels,  are  scattered  forts  behind  whose  walls  the 
enemy  have  fought  us  on  their  own  soil.  And  it  must 
not  be  forgotten,  that  the  South  had  made,  for  years, 
preparation  for  separation,  while  we  had  made  none. 

Notwithstanding  our  disadvantages,  with  treachery  at 
the  North  and  in  the  army,  New  Orleans,  Forts  Henry 
and  Donelson,  Corinth,  Vicksburg,  Port  Hudson,  Mobile, 
and  Atlanta  have  fallen ; and,  as  this  page  is  written,  the 
glad  tidings  of  Early’s  defeat  by  the  gallant  Sheridan  is 
flying  over  the  land. 

AVith  union  and  energy,  the  crest  of  the  hydra  Seces- 
sion will  soon  be  trodden  into  the  dust  by  the  march  of 
Freedom’s  host,  to  be  lifted  no  more  to  the  wrath  of  God 
and  the  scorn  of  the  world. 

It  is  not  partial,  extravagant  praise,  to  say  that  Lieu- 
tenant-General Grant  belongs  with  singular  preeminence 
to  the  class  of  military  chieftains  of  Revolutionary  mem- 
ory, at  whose  head  stands  the  immortal  Washington. 


DEFINITION  OF  MILITARY  WORDS. 


OFFICERS. 

Lieutenant-General. — The  highest  officer  in  the  United  States 
Army.  He  has  command  of  the  entire  force.  The  President 
is,  by  his  office,  Commander-in-Chief ; but  the  Lieutenant- 
General  is  at  the  head  of  troops  in  actual  service. 

Major-General. — The  next  in  rank  to  the  former.  The  commander 
of  a division,  or  several  regiments. 

Brigadier-General. — The  commander  of  a brigade,  which  is  an 
indefinite  number  of  regiments.  It  is  the  grade  below  that  of 
the  Major-General. 

Colonel. — The  commander  of  a regiment,  which  comprises,  when 
full,  about  a thousand  men. 

Lieutenant-Colonel. — Next  to  the  former,  commanding  the  regi- 
ment in  his  absence. 

Major. — The  officer  next  in  command. 

Captain. — The  officer  over  a company,  the  number  of  which  is 
usually  one  hundred  men. 

Lieutenant. — The  officer  next  to  the  captain,  and  who  fills  his  place 
in  his  absence. 

Aide-de-Camp. — A general  officer’s  assistant  officer. 

22 


338 


DEFINITION  OF  MILITARY  WORDS. 


Adjutant. — An  officer  who  aids  a superior  officer  in  receiving  and  ' 
giving  orders.  He  places  guards,  distributes  ammunition,  &c. 

Ensign. — The  standard  bearer ; the  lowest  commissioned  officer  in 
the  infantry.  Cornet  is  the  same  in  cavalry. 

Sergeant. — A non-commissioned  officer,  whose  duty  it  is  to  instruct 
the  soldiers  in  the  ranks,  form  the  ranks,  &c. 

Corporal. — The  lowest  officer  in  the  infantry,  having  charge  of  a 
few  men,  relieving  sentinels,  &c. 

Admiral. — The  highest  officer  in  the  navy.  The  commander  of  a 
fleet.  Vice-Admiral  commands  the  second  squadron,  and  is 
next  in  rank.  Rear-Admiral  has  command  of  the  third  squad, 
ron,  or  last  division  of  the  fleet. 

Commodore. — The  commander  of  a squadron,  or  portion  of  a fleet, 
on  some  special  service.  A naval  captain,  who  has  two  or  three 
ships  under  his  command,  is  sometimes  honored  with  the  title. 


OTHER  TERMS. 

Abatis. — Piles  of  trees,  or  branches  sharpened,  and  laid  with  their 
points  outward,  in  front  of  fortifications,  to  prevent  the  ap- 
proach of  the  enemy. 

Ambulance. — A carriage  for  the  sick  and  wounded. 

Artillery. — The  soldiers  who  manage  the  heavy  guns. 

Battalion. — A body  of  troops  less  than  a regiment. 

Battery. — Six  cannon  make  a full  battery.  The  term  is  applied  to 
a smaller  number. 

Bomb, — A large  cast-iron  shell,  charged  with  powder,  and  thrown 
from  a mortar,  which  ignites  a fuse,  exploding  the  bomb  where 
it  falls. 


DEFINITION  OF  MILITARY  WORDS. 


339 


Bombardment. — An  attack  with  bombs ; throwing  them  into  a fort, 
town,  or  ship. 

Caisson. — An  artillery  carriage  containing  ammunition. 

Canister. — A tin  cylinder  filled  writh  shot,  made  to  explode  when 
fired  from  the  gun. 

Casemate. — A vault  or  covered  chamber,  of  masonry,  to  protect 
from  shot  and  shell. 

Cavalry. — Horsemen  in  the  army. 

Columbiad. — A large  cannon  ; sometimes  ten  feet  in  length. 

Column. — A body  of  troops  drawn  up  in  deep  files  with  narrow 
front. 

Countersign. — A word  given  by  the  highest  officer  to  guards  and 
sentinels,  and  all  who  have  occasion  to  pass  them ; so  that  no 
improper  person  may  get  by  them. 

Enfilade. — To  sweep  the  inside  of  a fortification,  or  line  of  troops, 
with  shot. 

File. — A row  of  soldiers  one  behind  the  other. 

Flank. — The  side  of  a body  of  men,  or  place.  To  outflank  right  or 
left,  .is  to  get  round  on  that  side. 

Fuse. — A tube  filled  with  combustible  material,  or  a cord  of  similar 
character,  set  on  fire  when  the  shell  is  fired  ; its  length  in  pro- 
portion to  the  distance  the  shell  is  designed  to  go. 

Grape.— The  proper  term  is  grapeshot : several  small  balls  in  a 
canvas  bag,  fitted  to  the  bore  of  a gun,  bursting,  and  scattering 
the  balls  upon  the  discharge. 

Gunboat. — A vessel  fitted  up  with  cannon.  An  ironclad , is  one 
covered  or  plated  with  iron. 

Infantry. — Soldiers  on  foot. 

Mortar. — A short,  wide-mouthed  gun,  used  for  throwing  shells. 

Pickets. — The  soldiers  in  front  of  the  army,  to  watch  and  report 
movements  of  the  enemy. 


340 


•DEFINITION  OF  MILITARY  WORDS. 


Pontoon. — A boat  bridge  for  crossing  streams,  which  can  be  carried 
in  wagons. 

Reveille. — The  first  drumbeat  in  the  morning. 

Rifle  Pits. — Excavations  in  the  ground  to  protect  the  riflemen. 
Staff. — The  group  of  officers  which  attend  a general. 

Tattoo. — The  drumbeat  at  night,  giving  notice  of  time  for  soldiers 
to  retire. 


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Date  Due 


